Damage pegged at P500,000: Fire hits old structures in Capitol site

CEBU, Philippines - Two structures, which have been abandoned for more than two years, went ablaze yesterday afternoon in Barangay Capitol Site eating up an estimated P500,000 worth of properties.

The fire, which was alerted to the fire department at 2:35 p.m., damaged an abandoned house believed to be owned by a Chinese and an old Fountainhead Bakery building located along Juana Osmeña Street. The house of ex-mayor Ramonito Durano also incurred minor damages in its ceiling because of its proximity to the old bakery.

Fire trucks from barangays Lahug, Guadalupe, Mabolo, Parian and Labangon together with the ones from the Cebu City Fire Department responded to the fire alarm.

BFP officer-in-charge Virginia Toledo said the blaze was placed under second alarm and was controlled within five minutes by the responding fire fighters. She said the light traffic and accessibility of the area also helped in the quick control of the fire.

Fire investigators said the blaze might have started by scavengers since both buildings were already abandoned and no caretakers were around during the incident. It was believed that children who stole electrical wirings from the old structures left some fire after burning the covering of the electrical wires to be sold in junk shops. — Barbara Anne B. Ocaba (THE FREEMAN)