House, apartment damaged by fire in Punta Princesa

CEBU, Philippines - Fire razed a six-door apartment and a house along F. Llamas Corner Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, on Saturday night.

Initial reports said that the house owned by the Lim family was destroyed by the fire which started at about 7:45pm.

Almejun “Ian” Bacalso, 22, a neighbor of the Lim family, was one of the first who noticed the fire which was controlled within 3 minutes.

Bacalso said the blaze started from the room occupied by Frank Lim who was reportedly out of the house when the fire occurred.

Together with two friends, Bacalso rushed inside the house and tried to extinguish the fire but to no avail.

They also managed to warn Michael Lim who was having dinner at the back portion of the house.

Fire Marshal Aderson Comar said that the fire, which reached second alarm, destroyed 75 thousand worth of properties.

Comar said the fire easily spread from the Lim residence, which is made of light materials.

The fire also destroyed four rooms and partially damaged a portion of the Hortellano Apartment.

Neighbors reportedly heard a loud explosion a few seconds before the Lim residence burst into flames. — (FREEMAN)