In the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, three fires hit in one day

CEBU, Philippines - Three separate fire alarms broke out yesterday which damaged a former city councilor's office and razed a warehouse full of caskets and a poultry house. 

The first fire, which was reported around 6:40 in the morning, took place in office of former city councilor Joey Daluz on the third level of the legislative building of the Cebu City Hall. 

Based on initial investigation, the air-conditioning unit inside the office overheated after it was reportedly not turned off from the previous day.

"Gamay ra man nuon ang sunog kay ang aircon ra man. No further damage except nga aso kaayo," said Daluz, who is currently the executive assistant of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Two personal computer units were not damage but was referred to the office of Management Information and Computer Services (MICS). Computer units, Daluz said, are not provided by the city government but is privately owned.

The office also has a photocopier and furnitures which were taken out while the office was being cleaned.

Later in the morning, around 10:41, a fire razed the warehouse for the processing of caskets of the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.        

SFO4 Jovito Abelgas of the Bureau and Fire Protection said the fire reportedly started at the back of the warehouse and easily spread out due to flammable materials stocked inside, like paint thinners and other supplies.

Abelgas said they have yet to determine the real cause of the fire pending investigation but they are looking at the possibility that it was triggered by a lighted cigarette or plugged cellular phones chargers or other appliances.

He added that two men, who were present when the fire broke out, will be invited for further investigation.

There were no reported casualties in the incident which damage was pegged at P300,000.

The fire alarm was raised to second alarm and was controlled within ten minutes.

Hours later, a poultry house was destroyed by a fire in barangay Basak, Mandaue City.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Nilo Cosido of the Mandaue Fire Department said that the fire broke out around 1:45 in the afternoon and was contained by the responding firemen within eight minutes.

According to Cosido, a witness and resident of the area stated that the fire reportedly started from the ceiling of the house.

"May gali naka responde dayon ang mga fire truck sa Basak kay kung wala pa posible nga maapil ang tapad niini nga mga balay," said Cosido.

Fire investigators are also yet to determine the cause of the fire.  The owner of the house was reportedly not around when the incident happened.

"Ginapuy-an sa tag-iya ang gamayng balay pero gihimo niya ni og bodega sa trapo nga tagpiso ug butanganan sa alaga niya nga mga piso," Cosido said, adding that they peg the damage to be at P10,000.— (FREEMAN)