Fire hits school computer lab

CEBU, Philippines - A circuit overload is believed to have caused the fire at the computer laboratory of Labangon Elementary school yesterday morning.

It was the fourth fire in Cebu City since the Bureau of Fire Protection opened the observance of the Fire Prevention Month last week.

The fire department received the fire alarm at 9:26 a.m. but was immediately put off using a fire extinguisher. The responding firemen were no longer able to spray water.

School Principal Gliceria Melencion said they have requested for an electrical load upgrade of the entire school since late last year after a local club donated 40 computer units.

“The school board has identified our school as one of many other schools in the city which need electrical upgrade as our population and equipment grew,” she said.

In a letter dated December 17, 2011, Melencion requested the Visayan Electric Company, Inc. to help address their overload problem. This, after the local school board failed to approve their request.

Following the advice of the Department of Education engineer, the school administration decided not to use their new computer laboratory until the electrical upgrade is done.

“We have a new computer laboratory donated by a rotary club last year which has 40 new computer units. But we still can’t use it,” she said.

The principal has asked VECO to provide them with a separate transformer to prevent reoccurrence of yesterday’s fire.

Melencion hopes that their problem can be resolved as soon as possible so they can ensure the safety of their students and for them to finally use their new computer laboratory. 

Teacher Anna Liza Romero first noticed the unusual smell in the computer room prompting her to check it.

But before she could finish the task, the room was already filled with black smoke. Romero, who is nine months pregnant, immediately asked for help from her co-teachers. Science teacher Rex Reserva responded the call for help by pulling out one of the school’s fire extinguishers and put off the fire.

The damage was negligible except that the class was suspended for a while. (FREEMAN)