A fire that broke out early Saturday, April 25, at a public market in Barangay Commonwealth escalated to a fifth alarm before being declared under control, authorities said.

The blaze started at about 2:32 a.m. at Commonwealth Market and was initially raised to a second alarm. It quickly intensified, reaching a third alarm by 3:06 a.m. and a fourth alarm by 3:18 a.m., before peaking at a fifth alarm at 4:58 a.m., according to fire alerts.

According to QC Fire Inspector Bernardo Soriano, the fire was declared under control at 6:16 a.m., hours after it began. By around 6:36 a.m., responders said the flames had been largely subdued.

Initial reports indicated the fire originated from a one-story commercial building that stores frozen meat. The fire reportedly spread out along the market's second floor. Several vendors were affected as the fire spread through portions of the trading area.

Multiple fire trucks responded to the incident, with personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and volunteers surrounding the area to contain the blaze and assist the crowd affected by the fire.

Traffic along Commonwealth Avenue, particularly on the lanes facing the market near the Boynita BonBon area, was partially obstructed as vendors moved their goods onto the road to salvage items from the fire.

Prior to the fire, a man believed to be the first to witness the blaze was assaulted by vendors who mistakenly suspected him of theft. He was later rescued and taken into police custody.

Authorities have yet to release an official estimate of damage or determine the cause of the fire. No casualties have been reported as of writing.