Unveiling the Real Cause Behind the NAIA Terminal 3 Fire Incident

A fire broke out at the parking extension of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, causing damage to 19 vehicles. The incident, which occurred on Monday, prompted airport firefighters to swiftly contain the blaze.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) received reports of the fire at 1:28 p.m. and declared it extinguished by 1:57 p.m. According to MIAA General Manager Eric Ines, the fire originated from one car in the parking lot, with subsequent vehicles catching fire due to the intense heat.

While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire remains under investigation by both the airport authority and the Bureau of Fire Protection. Ines attributed the rapid spread of the fire to windy conditions and dry grass in the area.

The incident occurred approximately 300 meters away from the terminal, in a vacant lot utilized as a parking area by a private concessionaire. Despite the proximity to the terminal, airport operations were not affected.

The Bureau of Fire Protection confirmed that the fire was a case of grass fire, which may have been exacerbated by the prevailing hot weather conditions. SFO1 Rezmond Geronimo of the Pasay City Fire Station noted that the direction of the wind could have contributed to the fire's spread.

“Ito po ay verified grass fire. Maaaring yung sunog ay nagsimula sa tuyong damuhan at gumapang papunta doon sa parking area,” he said.

“Damuhan po ito, maraming duyong dahon o mga damo sa paligid. Lalong-lalo na mainit ang panahon, ito ay nagko-contribute para maging malapit sa grass fire ang ating lugar. Hindi naman ito common na nangyayari. Hindi yata nila na-foresee yung ganitong insidente. Kung titingnan yung area, napaliligiran ito ng damuhan,” Geronimo added.

(This was a grass fire. The blaze could have started from a grassy area and spread to the parking area. There was dried grass there. Hot weather contributes to grass fire. This is uncommon. They may have failed to foresee this incident.)

As investigations continue into the cause of the blaze, authorities emphasize the importance of fire safety measures, particularly during periods of heightened heat and dryness.