CEBU, Philippines - An electrical overload was the suspected cause of a fire that reduced a house to ashes and damaged one more in Sitio Looc, Barangay Poblacion, Liloan town last Monday.
The house owned by a certain Leo Pepito was already razed when firefighters arrived so responders focused on preventing the fire from totally eating up the neighboring house of Pepito’s mother.
“Naugdaw na man ang usa ka balay mao tong among gipaningkamutan nga matabang pa ang balay sa mama kay wala pa man kaayo nakaon sa kayo,” said Fire Officer Reo Donaire of the Liloan Fire Station.
Donaire said Pepito told them that the fire started in the living room of his house.
The town’s fire department received the alarm at 6:49 p.m. and fire officers declared it fire out at 6:59 p.m.
Pepito admitted that he has been plying electrical connection with that of his mother’s house. This, he said, may have caused fire.
In their assessment, Donaire estimated the fire’s damage to be at least P120,000. He said they are still conducting follow-up investigation to determine the actual cause of fire.
There were no deaths or injuries reported.
Meanwhile, Donaire advised that people should only buy Christmas lights duly approved by the Department of Trade and Industry to reduce fire risks this holiday season.
He also urged residents to turn off the lights and home appliances if not used to avoid possible short circuits. — Jan Michael T. Lumayag, USJ-R Intern (FREEMAN)