CEBU, Philippines - A fire destroyed three houses and damaged two stores, leaving an estimated damage of around P1 million yesterday morning in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion.
Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire but initially said it started at the house owned by brothers Braulio and Roel Garbo, which was made of light materials.
The fire also gutted the house and damaged the sari-sari store of Cynthia Lobo as well as the bakeshop owned by Romualdo Formentera. Fire Officer 1 Jay-R Quijano, fire investigator of the Consolacion Fire Station, said they received the alarm past 10 a.m.
It was considered under control three minutes after firefighters arrived at the scene.
"As of now dili pa namo maistor-ya ang magsuon kay tungod sa hitabo mora’g nakalitan pa sila pero sigon sa mga nakakita nga nag-aso na kuno ang balay," Quijano said.
He added that the fire easily spread to the other structures due to the open space.
"Paspas nakadako ang kayo kay open ang area hinuon wala’y problema sa dalan kay duol sa highway ra man," Quijano said.
The fire was raised to second alarm. Aside from the Consolacion Fire Station, the Liloan Fire Station and the Consolacion Emergency Response Team also rushed to the alarm.
"Pag-abot namo nagtinabangay na ang mga tawo pero dili sad kaayo dugay nga nakaabot mi kay dili man gyud ingon layo," the fire investigator said.
The fire was declared completely out by noon. No one was reported injured in the incident. Quijano said that the incident created traffic congestion for a few hours along the national road. (FREEMAN)