Fire destroys seven houses

CEBU, Philippines - Fire destroyed seven houses yesterday afternoon in barangay Tawason, Mandaue City.

No one was reported hurt.

SFO2 Roy Garcia said the Mandaue City Fire department has yet to determine the cause of the fire, although clues point to an unattended lighted mosquito killer coil as the culprit.

Garcia said one Cresencio Salvador, a jeepney driver, had gone out to fetch his jeepney from the repair shop, allegedly leaving his four young children alone at home. His children fled when they saw their house was on fire.

Salvador said he keeps a mosquito killer coil always lighted to keep mosquitoes away. His house is located near a swamp.

Six other houses that were also totally burned belonged to Lolita Ruelan, Gabriel Entrampas, Dapie Obiso, Besalil Olmedo, Pedro Avila, and another house that belonged to a certain Alunan.

Damage was pegged at P260,000. — THE FREEMAN