THE Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to a structure fire at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort on Saturday morning, March 15, 2025, after receiving an emergency call about thick black smoke near the staff housing.
“The initial scene investigation revealed that a semi-concrete warehouse, used as a mechanic and repair shop at LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort, on the eastern side of the compound, had caught fire,” DFEMS Public Information Officer Robert Mojica said on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
Mojica noted that the emergency call was made at 11:29 a.m., and by 11:36 a.m., Forestry-5 was the first unit to arrive on the scene, followed by Medic-5, Engine 2, Engine 4, and Rescue 1.
Upon further scene assessment and investigation, DFEMS discovered that the area of origin was in the northwest interior of the warehouse. The structure sustained severe fire, heat, and smoke damage, Mojica said.
He added, “No injuries or fatalities were reported on scene.”
According to DFEMS, the cause of the fire remains under investigation and will be determined later by the Division of Fire and Arson Investigation.
‘Completely destroyed’
LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort issued the following statement on Wednesday:
“The shop house building was completely destroyed, resulting in the total loss of all assets inside. At least 20 carts scheduled for repair ahead of the NMC [golf] tournament were lost in the fire. Critical equipment, including essential golf course maintenance tools, green mowers, fairway mowers, and other machinery, were also lost.
“Due to the golf cart shortage, LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort and the Northern Marianas College tournament organizers have urgently requested support from neighboring golf courses on Saipan. We are deeply grateful for the prompt and generous support of Coral Ocean Resort and local businesses and organizations. Their solidarity is especially touching given the broader purpose of the NMC tournament, namely supporting Saipan’s educational rebuilding efforts. LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort pledges to repay this community spirit in future endeavors.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and the Department of Public Safety for their rapid response. Their efforts prevented the fire from spreading to nearby fuel tanks and generator rooms, averting a potential catastrophe.
“LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort is profoundly grateful to all agencies involved. We appreciate Saipan Mayor RB Camacho for visiting the site and providing critical support, including emergency water tanks from the Mayor’s Office, which significantly helped mitigate damage. We are also deeply grateful to the residents of Kagman for their patience and understanding during this challenging time.
“We are relieved there were no injuries and are fully focused on recovery. Our teams are working around the clock to restore operations and ensure minimal disruption to upcoming events. Further updates will be shared as investigations progress.”
