Three-year old boy dies in Lapu fire

A three-year-old child died in a fire that destroyed nine houses in barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, yesterday afternoon.

City fire investigator Rodulfo Apa said that the fire started at the house of Ranulfo Pino after an electric fan overheated and sparked. His son Charlie was then sleeping in that room, being watched over by their maid.

Apa said that the maid reportedly panicked when the fire spread throughout the house and ran off, leaving Charlie alone the room.

He said that the father tried to rescue the child but it was too late as the house was already engulfed in flames. Pino suffered first-degree burns in his arms.

Apa said that the blaze spread to nearby houses destroying eight of these owned by Meme Samante, Edgardo Borres, Theresa Bricasio, Fe Bontulan and Estrella Ayao.

Fire personnel received the alarm at 4:00 p.m. and the fire was placed under control two minutes after firemen arrived at the scene.

Damage was set at P500,000. - Mitchelle P. Calipayan