Fire leaves retail store in ruins

A fire believed to be caused by faulty electrical work set ablaze the inside of a retail store in Garapan over the weekend, leaving it in shambles.

The fire ignited inside Hong Yuan Department Store, a retail shop located in the heart of Garapan that’s known for its low-priced clothes that range from active wear to formal wear.

According to one of the store’s owners, who agreed to speak on the condition that she not be named, she believes the fire was caused by faulty electrical work. She explained that when one of the store’s workers plugged a wire into an outlet, it popped, which ultimately started the fire.

Saipan Tribune got a glimpse of the building’s interior and the inside was covered in black ashes. Some of the retail store’s workers could be seen salvaging what was left of the goods.

Saipan Tribune learned that the owners do not intend to relocate and may just renovate the establishment.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services has yet to release an official report on its investigation of the fire.

“At this time, the cause of the fire remains under investigation and will be determined at a later date,” a DFEMS statement said.

According to the official DFEMS news release, multiple callers to DFEMS reported a possible structure fire at the Hong Yuan Department Store in Garapan at around 9:12am on Sunday, Jan. 14. DFEMS responded to the incident about a minute later.

A DFEMS team arrived at the scene at around 9:14am and immediately sized up the scene and reported that the whole first floor was affected by the fire.

Another DFEMS team also ensured that all individuals living on the second floor of the building had been evacuated.

When other units arrived, firefighters entered the front of the building while others circled the building to check on the ventilating windows on the sides.

A back door was discovered where another fire in the building was raging, and a second entry was conducted to battle the fire.

At 10:12am, shift commander Fire captain John Mettao stated that the crews on the scene had the fire under control.

Investigators from the Division of Fire Prevention and Arson Investigation arrived on the scene shortly after to investigate and assess the cause.