Fires raze five houses in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines - Five houses have been damaged by two separate fire incidents in the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu yesterday.

An early morning fire hit an interior portion of Barangay Hipodromo resulting to P15,000 damage to at least three two-storey houses owned by Ellen and Fely Carbonilla. Cebu City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar said they had a difficulty in penetrating the area because of the illegally parked vehicles on the access road.

The fire department received the alarm at 4:07 a.m. and declared under control minutes later. Comar said the fire started at the second floor of Ellen Carbonilla’s house.

“Naa kuno siyay namat-an nga nag-piti-piti nya explosion gamay, then sunog na dayon,” Comar said.

The fire immediately spread and damaged her mother’s house and one other.

Although the fire was hoisted only to first alarm, all fire stations in the city have sent their fire trucks to respond.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF), Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade, Sto. Niño and Apas fire brigades also helped put out the fire.

Meanwhile, two houses were razed including that of a retired air force official in Barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon.

The fire which broke at 1:30 p.m. has destroyed the house of retired Col. Oscar Cornelio resulting to a damage of P350,000. — (FREEMAN)