Fire hits restaurant in Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines - An estimated P250,000 worth of properties went up in some when a third alarm fire hit a restaurant in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon.

Fire investigators said a blaze, which was believed to be caused by an overheated electrical appliance, hit Mongolian Restaurant in Bagong Bayan, Barangay Soong.

Personnel of the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department received a call from an employee of the restaurant who alleged that a fire broke out when a refrigerator exploded.

Fire investigator Julius Gujar said their department immediately dispatched firetrucks to the scene but the conflagration was already big when they arrived.

“But due to four fire trucks that responded to the alarm, in just one minute they were able to stop the fire and control from spreading to other establishments especially to the back portion of the said restaurant which is reportedly a squatters area,” Gujar added.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Mactan Airbase also deployed their own fire engines to the scene to assist and make sure that nobody will get hurt from the incident.

Gujar said that based on their investigation, personnel from the City Health Department had already advised the owner of the restaurant, Eric Cho, to change their refrigerator because it was already defective but the latter allegedly did not heed.

Luckily, Gujar said no one was reported injured due to explosion or the fire that burned down the restaurant. — THE FREEMAN