CEBU, Philippines - A warehouse and some houses were damaged when two fires broke out about an hour apart at dawn yesterday in Barangay Bulacao in Cebu City.
Kirshin Apparel building, which was used as a warehouse at Lower San Roque, was first reported to be on fire at 3:55 am followed by another at 5:08 am in St. Jude, Phase 2 where 14 houses were razed.
Both fires marked the 6th and 7th fire incidents reported in Cebu City since the start of March which happens to be Fire Prevention Month.
The fire at Lower San Roque was controlled within a minute after the Bulacao Fire Brigade, which was stationed only a few meters from the fire scene, quickly responded.
A certain Tertuliaw Tolentino owned the building which was leased to Marilyn Lim.
Christy Lauron, who lived at the back of the warehouse, said the building was used as a textile storage area where several machines have also been kept for over 10 years.
Members of the Bulacao Fire Brigade forcibly opened the iron gates to douse the burning building.
The edifice, which was made of concrete and metal, confined the fire easily but P25, 000 worth of textile and equipment were still damaged.
While firefighters were extinguishing the fire, a resident from Phase 2 of St. Jude Acres, which was only a few meters from the warehouse, ran towards the firefighters and reported another fire at around 5:08 am.
Because most of the fire trucks were already running out of water supply, Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar sought help from the Talisay and Mandaue Fire Stations to help control the second fire which reportedly originated from the house owned by former police officer Jonathan Alcover.
The fire was raised to second alarm with an estimated damage of P250, 000.
Comar said Jonathan’s paralyzed mother, Jesusa, noticed the fire after her room suddenly felt hot. When she checked, flames were already raging in an adjacent room prompting her to shout for help.
Jesusa was carried away from their burning house to safety by her son and grandchildren while others woke those who were still asleep.Comar said they managed to control the fire within seven minutes though most of the houses were made of light materials. Concrete houses and surrounding walls also helped to confine the fire, he said.
Jonald Alcover, 22, was apprehended by the police for causing a commotion at the fire scene after he was alleged by his uncles to have started the fire.
“Wala gyud koy kalibutan ana sir, ako gipalong ang electric fan wala ko nagpabaya. Dili ako ang nagsugod sa sunog, (I really have no idea sir, I turned off the electric fan, I was not negligent. I did not start the fire.” he told The FREEMAN angrily.
Jonald, who was intoxicated, was reportedly the last person seen inside the house before it burst into flames and spread to other houses.
He was reportedly scolded by his uncle, Edgar, and was told to stop drinking with several of his friends a few hours before the blaze.
“Wala pa ta masayod kay si Jonald ang nakainom man. Mao nga atong gihangyo ang kapulisan nga i-detain for safekeeping ug ipa-liquor test,(We don’t know yet because Jonald was intoxicated. We just asked the police to detain him for safekeeping and subject him to a liquor test.)” Comar said. — (FREEMAN)