MANILA – A fire hit a factory of rattan furniture in Marikina City past midnight Wednesday. Factory caretaker Benjie Enriquez said he heard an explosion coming from the first floor of the factory owned by Cagayan Valley Industries right before the fire erupted. The fire began at 12:15 a.m. and reached the third alarm. It was declared out at 1:45 a.m. Supt. Marcos Valen, Marikina City fire marshal, said the fire easily spread throughout the factory because rattan is a highly combustible material. No one was injured in the incident. The estimated cost of damage from the fire is at P500,000. – report from Kori Quintos, dzMM