A massive fire tore through a major commercial establishment in Novaliches early Wednesday, reaching a fifth alarm and causing significant structural damage before being extinguished late in the morning.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the blaze erupted at a commercial establishment located at the corner of Belfast Avenue and Quirino Highway in Barangay Pasong Putik.

It was first reported at 4:40 a.m. and escalated rapidly, hitting the fifth alarm by 5:16 a.m. as the flames spread to the building’s warehouse section.

Witnesses described a frantic scene as the fire intensified near a neighboring gasoline station. Tricia Kaye, an office worker nearby, said only one fire truck was initially on the scene as the wind fanned the flames.

“We saw the fire from the Sky Garden and it was already huge,” she said. “It eventually reached the back warehouse. We were monitoring it closely because it is right next to a gas station.”

A total of 30 fire trucks responded to the scene. Firefighters were forced to use breathing apparatuses to navigate thick, black smoke. During the height of the blaze, glass panels shattered and portions of the building’s walls collapsed, damaging three vehicles parked nearby.

No residential houses were affected as the fire was contained within the supermarket compound.

The fire resulted in heavy traffic congestion along Belfast Street and Quirino Highway, affecting commuters traveling from Bulacan and other parts of Novaliches.

“Traffic from Novaliches is quite long, and the flow from Bulacan toward the direction of SM Fairview is heavy,” said Dexter Cardenas, Quezon City Traffic Operations Division chief. Additional enforcers were deployed to divert motorists.

BFP officials declared the fire under control at 7:59 a.m. and officially out at 10:48 a.m. Initial findings suggest the blaze originated in the middle section of the establishment and spread quickly through the supermarket interior.

In a social media statement, the commercial establishment announced the temporary closure of the Fairview branch and advised customers to visit other locations in Quezon City.