Fires hit two city barangays

CEBU, Philippines - At least 15 houses were burned when separate fires hit two barangays of Cebu City yesterday.

Yesterday’s blaze hit two sitios of Barangay Luz at around 1:25 p.m., destroying 10 houses with the amount of damage pegged at P700,000.

Fire fighters had a difficulty in penetrating the fire scene because of very narrow access road. But despite the problem, they were able to control the fire in 15 minutes.

The owners of 10 houses are identified as Jolling Montecino, Zenaida Arpon, Roberto Payusan, Ellen Igne, Nemecio Pagador, former brgy. Captain, Rebecca Bontilao, Prima Dunal,Pasensiana Tuquero, Ivy Amorado, Jerome Pagador and Ester Cañete.

A woman boarder of one house where the fire allegedly originated narrated that before they noticed the fire, she heard some neighbors calling.

Minutes later, she said that the fire spread in the house prompting them to pack their things and ran out of the house.

“Naa namaý nipiti gud mura ug kuryente to siya, dayon ni kayo na dayon,” she said.

SFO4 Allan Arciaga, fire investigator, the blaze started in the house of certain Bontilao. He added that their initial investigation point to faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire.

“Dili man gud dayun makasulod among firetruck mao na nga naglisud gyud kaayo mi. Mao gyud ni pirme among problema (narrow access roads), he explained.

Another problem he cited is the lack of fire hydrant where they can get water.

Meanwhile, five houses were totally burned when a fire, which was believed to be intentionally triggered, occurred past 7 p.m. in Sitio Kaimbol, Caduloy riverside, in Barangay Tisa, Cebu City.

Barangay tanod Romy Quiño said the fire originated from the first floor of the two-storey house owned by Marilyn Alvarez, who was accused by couple Edwin and Emily Dela Cruz as the one who triggered the fire.

The Dela Cruz alleged that in the afternoon of that day, an argument ensued between them and Alvarez over rumors in which the latter later threatened by saying, “Bantay lang mo unyang gabii.”

They believed that Alvarez lighted some of the clothing inside the house and the blaze spread through the house of the Dela Cruz and to the other three houses. The fire was put under first alarm and was controlled 20 minutes later.

One Junrey Gacayan, a neighbor, alleged that he saw Alvarez hurriedly walked away from the place while carrying some baggage. — Niña G. Sumacot and Gabriel C. Bonjoc/WAB (THE FREEMAN)