Over P4 million lost in 4 fires around city

CEBU, Philippines - Over P 4 million went up in smoke in a span of 24 hours around the city.

The biggest damage was sustained by Florencio Urot Memorial High School in barangay Mabolo where ten classrooms burned down including the library and canteen.Damage was pegged at P3.3 million.

The fire was tapped at 8:40 p.m. and the third alarm was raised.The fire was contained in 25 minutes, according to officials from the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Fire out was however declared at 10:20 p.m.

Fire investigator SFO1 Nilo Daculan said the fire started at the school canteen, which used to be a classroom.They are still looking into the cause of the blaze.

From the canteen the fire spread to the adjacent Home Economics Building that housed several classrooms then to a nearby three-classroom building.

Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla said that aside from the ten classrooms, school furniture books, important documents including school files were also lost.

Cebu City North District Congressman Raul Del Mar said he will ask the Department of Education-7 to allocate an emergency fund for the construction of classrooms so as not to displace the students.

Early Sunday morning, a two-storey house was totally burned while another was partially destroyed when a fire broke out in Ma. Cristina St., barangay Kamputhaw.

Damage to property was pegged at P1.2 million.

The fire razed a two-storey house owned by Blesy Nemeno. Partly damaged was thehouse owned by Myrna Luspo.

The fire, which started at the second floor of Nemeno’s house, was tapped at 4:20 a.m. and was declared under control at 4:56 a.m.

Duty fire investigator Antonio Gonzales is still determining the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, another fire broke out at 5:44 a.m. yesterday in Ma. Luisa Village in barangay Banilad resulting to P100,000 damage.

The fire destroyed a warehouse owned by Maria Socorro Enriquez. The fire reportedly started at the basement of the said building.

The fire was controlled two minutes later and was declared fire out at 7:50 a.m.

Daculan said that the fire was caused by electrical misuse.

Last Sunday night, P20,000 went up in smoke at a room of Cebu Business Hotel at corner Colon and Junquera Sts.

Firefighters immediately contained the fire in just one minute and declared it fire out at 6:01 p.m.

Daculan said the minor fire was caused by an air-conditioning unit that overheated.

He said that the Lebanese occupant of the room, Summer Saab, left the aircon on when he went out.

Fortunately, there were no casualties in the four incidents.

Daculan warned that people have to be careful in the use of electrical appliances to prevent overloading. — Niña G. Sumacot/NLQ (FREEMAN NEWS)