Fire hits Cebu red light area

CEBU CITY -- Fire hit the city's red light district in Barangay Kamagayan yesterday morning, burning down 77 houses, including those of two city officials, and injuring five persons.

Fire probers said the conflagration rendered more than 300 persons homeless. They estimated the damage to reach P3.5 million.

The fire did not only burn the residences of Kamagayan barangay captain Mansueto Avila and city prosecutor Primo Miro and 75 other houses and structures, but may cost responding firefighters their one-month allowance from the city.

Avila and Miro alleged that responding firemen took their time to reach the fire scene.

Kamagayan residents told reporters varied accounts on how the fire started. Some said the explosion of a liquefied petroleum gas tank preceded the conflagration while others said sparks from faulty electrical wiring caused an explosion inside one of the houses.

Other residents said the fire could have started from a house where a shabu session had been held earlier.

Fire investigator Fortunato Busia said he would summon five witnesses on Monday, including Cleotilde Odiong , the owner of the house where the fire reportedly started.