Woman hurt in fire that guts six houses

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — A 53-year-old woman sustained first-degree burns in her hands and body when her house and five others were gutted by a fire of still undetermined origin at Purok Ilaw in Barangay Taclobo in this city yesterday morning.

The victim was identified as Nida Cielo, who was doing laundry work in her neighbor's residence when the fire alarm was sounded. She went back to get his P1,000 placed in the drawer but got burned as a result.

Fire investigator SFO1 Hercel Vidal said the fire, based on the statements of other victims, may have started from the 2nd floor of the house of a certain Prescilliana Guanzon,

Guanzon, however, rebutted by saying that it came from the house of Basilisa Lagahid, who in turn angrily refuted the allegation and pointed at Guanzon's house where she said the thick smoke was first noticed.

Fire authorities estimated the damage to properties at P800,000, and Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, who supervised the firefighting effort, directed the City Social Welfare Office to immediately assess the personal needs of the victims or the displaced families. — (FREEMAN)