House burns down while owner is away

CEBU, Philippines - A fire gutted down a house in Seaview Subdivision, Barangay Lawaan 1 in Talisay city yesterday morning when the owner was in Cebu City to buy medicine.

Talisay City Fire Marshall Felipe Canillas said the fire erupted past 10 a.m after successive sounds like that of exploding firecrackers were heard from inside the house owned by Ernesto Gapasin.

The fire burned the house down despite the three fire trucks helping to put it out. Estimated damage is pegged at P750,000. Nevertheless, firefighters successfully controlled the fire in five minutes and prevented it from reaching the neighboring Lawaan National High School.

Canillas said defective electrical wiring, which is the common cause of fire in the city, has triggered the fire at Gapasin’s residence. The flames then spread quickly, as no one was in the house at that time.

The fire marshall once again called on residents in the city to always check their electrical wirings to prevent similar incidents from happening. The fire that hit Gapasin’s house is the fourth that occurred in Talisay City since the start of 2010. - Liv G. Campo/JMO