Capitol Site fire destroys 14 homes

CEBU, Philippines - A fire destroyed 14 houses and damaged five others in Villalon Drive, Sitio Lower Panaghiusa, Barangay Capitol Site, yesterday evening.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Alberto Jagdon said the fire was reported at 6:13 p.m. and raised to the second alarm. The fire was declared under control 30 minutes after firefighters arrived at the scene.

Damage was set at P250,000 while one woman was reported injured after suffering first-degree burns in her hand.

Since there was no fire hydrant at the scene firemen had to relay hoses to reach the affected area.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire; but Antonio Siano, 56, said he saw fire spread from underneath a parked van to nearby houses. The van had not been used in three years.

Siano, who is from Mindanao, came to Cebu City for the graduation of one of his children earlier yesterday morning.

However, there were also reports the fire started from an electric post.

Investigators are also looking into reports that there were three call center agents, two male and one female, in their rented rooms in the basement of the house of broadcaster Lou Arevalo when the fire broke out.

Arevalo's wife was the one who allegedly suffered first-degree burns.   (FREEMAN)