Farm razed in Pinamungajan

CEBU, Philippines - A poultry farm owned by a city councilor was razed in an early morning fire in Barangay Tupas, Pinamungajan town on Friday.

The fire, which reportedly broke out at 5 a.m., left behind an estimated damage of P2 million.

Fire investigators are still investigating what really triggered the fire, though according to PO3 Marciano Suarez of Pinamungajan Police Station, the flame started from an electrical wire attached on a corner of the building.

Jhonfiel Catila, caretaker of the farm, told police that he saw a spark coming from the wire, and then smoke appeared.

“Ni-spark pa kuno, dayon naa’y aso, mao na ‘to nagkayo, nikatay sa wire paingon na sa establisimiyento,” Suarez said in a phone interview.

Catila allegedly tried to put out the fire before calling the police station for help.

Suarez said they received the report 6 a.m., about an hour after the fire allegedly hit the farm. The structure, he said, was made of light materials such as plastic and Styrofoam so that the fire spread fast.

“Ang porma niya mora’g naka half-moon unya ground floor lang tanan. Close pud kaayo kay naka-aircon man. Pag-abot namo, wala na, ugdaw na gyud,” the police officer said.

Fire stations of  Pinamungajan and Carcar City arrived at the scene and controlled the blaze.

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

Carcar City councilor Archiles Gantunagco, 46, of the city’s Barangay Valladolid, was reportedly surprised upon knowing what happened to his property.

Suarez said that the poultry’s value reached about a million pesos while initial at damage to  the infrastructure and other facilities amounted to another million.  (FREEMAN)