Fire destroys three houses in Asturias

Three houses were destroyed by a fire in barangay Langub, Asturias town, yesterday morning. Estimated damage was placed at P100,000.

Based on the police report that reached the Operations Branch of the Cebu Provincial Police Office, a fire destroyed the houses of Winefredo Rosaut, Marina de los Angeles, and Marina's mother Yolina Lugay.

Another house, that of Mark Anthony Lugay, was slightly damaged.

The fire reportedly started around 8 a.m. Firemen from Balamban town were first on the scene thirty minutes later. Firemen from the Tuburan station arrived before 9 a.m. followed by firemen from Toledo City a few minutes later.

The fire was considered under control around 9:10 a.m.

Asturias policeman SPO1 Godofredo Bondan yesterday told The Freeman that since they have no fire station in their town they asked assistance from the neighboring town fire stations.

Balamban fire marshall SFO4 Socrates Ariosa said they received the alarm around 8:18 a.m. after a certain Raul Enriquez came running to their station to tell them about the fire. Enriquez himself had been earlier informed of the fire by Balamban councilor Allan Adlawon.

Earlier, the barangay captain of barangay Langub, Asturias, called Adlawon by cellular phone to report the incident.

The Balamban fire station is around 10 kilometers away from the scene of the fire.

Ariosa said that the fire started inside the room of Rosaut's house. They suspect that either an unattended mosquito coil or electrical misuse caused the blaze.

He also said this was the first fire in the town this month and third since 2004. - Norvie S. Misa