Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said its documents were safe after a fire that broke out at the agency’s Cordillera Regional Office in Baguio City on the afternoon of 14 January 2026 was immediately contained.

If not for the swift response of personnel on site, important — and possibly vital — documents could have been destroyed as flames reached a portion of the Financial Management Records Section of the DPWH Cordillera office.

Based on a report by Baguio City Fire Marshal Mark Anthony Dangatan to the City Disaster Management Cluster, the fire incident was reported to the Baguio City Fire Station at 5:25 p.m.

The fire was declared under control at 5:36 p.m., and a fire-out was announced at 5:43 p.m.

Prior to the arrival of firefighters, a utility worker reportedly noticed smoke coming from the room and immediately alerted security personnel and nearby staff. Together, they initially battled the blaze using 10-pound fire extinguishers.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) later arrived and took over suppression operations. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

In a statement issued shortly after the fire-out declaration, the DPWH confirmed the incident and said the affected area had been secured. According to the BFP-Baguio, the fire damaged approximately two square meters of office space, and no employees were injured.

The DPWH said it will provide additional information as it becomes available.