Midday blaze destroys house

CEBU, Philippines - A midday fire destroyed a house in Block 2 Tierra Grande, Santa Lucia Subdivision Camella Homes, Barangay Lawaan I, Talisay City, after the victim fell asleep while cooking rice for lunch.

Edilberto Timtim fell asleep when the fire started destroying the kitchen area of the house after the gas stove he used in cooking overheated.

The Talisay City Fire Station raised the fire to first alarm which was then responded by two fire trucks.

SFO2 Felipe Abarquez, fire investigator, said Timtim just arrived from work and decided to cook for lunch but while waiting for the rice to cook, the stove reportedly overheated which started the fire.

The fire engulfed the plywood table where the stove was placed including the plastic tray of kitchen utensils. The fire started to reach the ceiling when Timtim woke up because of thick smoke which prompted him to go out of the house and ask for help.

Neighbors of Timtim immediately took pails of water and helped in putting out the fire.

 “Pag-abot namo wala nay kayo napawong na wala gyud nakadako, (When we arrived, the fire was already put out.” Abarquez said in a phone interview.

The damaged was pegged at P20,000. —MIT (FREEMAN)