Fire guts Pelaez eatery, estimated damage P.5M

CEBU, Philippines - A fire gutted an eatery along Pelaez St., barangay Kalubihan, yesterday. No one was reported killed while damage was estimated at P550,000.

This was confirmed by Cebu City fire marshal Esmael Codilla who said that the fire was raised to second alarm.

Fire investigator FO3 Antonio Gonzales said that they received the alarm at past 2 p.m. yesterday and that the blaze was controlled 10 minutes after firemen arrived at the scene.

Initial investigation revealed that a lit candle may have started the fire but Gonzales said that they have yet to establish the real cause.

A helper of Angel’s Eatery, who requested anonymity, alleged that the fire started in the room of Angelina Tian, owner of the said establishment.

The helper said that prior to the incident, a power outage occurred in the area that was why Tian lit a candle in her room upstairs. But the melting candle was left unattended, the helper further alleged.

However, Tian denied lighting any candle, and said that in fact she herself is wondering where the fire could have originated.

Investigation showed that the fire started at the upper portion of Angel’s Eatery and then spread to two adjacent rooms-for-rent including a clinic owned by Ernesto de Guzman, and a barbeque stand owned by Liza Culinar.

The affected business establishments occupied a lot owned by a certain Antonio Lao who is said to be currently out of the country. Lao left the care of the rooms-for-rent to a certain Sammy Polinar, the fire investigator found out. — Niña Chrismae G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)