1 injured, 7 houses razed in Lapu-Lapu fire

CEBU, Philippines - One person was injured while seven houses and two vehicles were gutted by two fire incidents that broke out in Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday.

 The first blaze burned down four houses made of light materials in Barangay Buaya at 1:38 p.m. on Saturday.

Damage is pegged at P30,000.

SFO1 Agapito Bolotano of the Bureau of Fire Protection of Lapu-Lapu City said the fire lasted for eight minutes.

The owners were identified as Casiano Panuan, Rosendo Panuan, Ressell Cuizon and Emilia Del Castillo.

Casiano, 29, suffered first degree burns in his body as he was in his room at the second floor of the house when the fire broke out.

He was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Casiano was the one who called the fire department for assistance.

Firefighters immediately responded and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby houses, which were mostly made of light materials.

Bolotano said their investigation showed that defective electrical wiring caused the fire.

At 7:05 pm, another fire broke out in sitio Mustang, Barangay Pusok, that gutted three houses, a multicab and a motorcycle, all worth P130,000.

It was put under control after 13 minutes.

Bolotano said, Bryan Berezo, owner of one of the houses, admitted that the fire started at the ceiling of his house.

A rechargeable light bulb suddenly exploded and caused the fire.

His relative, Emilio Berezo, lost his house, a multicab and a motorcycle.  (FREEMAN)