Noon fire razes three houses

CEBU, Philippines - A fire razed three houses and partially damaged a commercial building along Lapu-Lapu Street, Barangay Santo Niño, Cebu City at around 11:15 yesterday morning.

Lorna Gacayan, 59, who owned one of the three houses, told The FREEMAN that she was very fortunate to have escaped alive from their burning hose.

“Before the fire, I was preparing for my bath when I heard my nephew shout that there was a fire,” she said in Cebuano.

She got everything she could grab and rushed from their burning house half of which was already on fire.

“I did not care anymore for my things, I just got what I could and ran because my life was more important,” the teary-eyed Gacayan said. Gerome Butar, 45, who owned an eatery which they have been maintaining for over eight years, was upset after he only learned that their house was on fire when their lights went off.

“I was saddened after our neighbors (from the upper floors) did not bother warning us of the fire,” he told The FREEMAN.

Gerome’s wife, Conchita, 45, sustained first degree burns on her right arm. “No one informed us of the fire, that was why I was hurt,” Conchita said.

Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar told The FREEMAN that the fire originated from a room reportedly rented by a certain “Toto” who works at a nearby oil station. Toto was reportedly out at work when the fire broke out. The house, which was made of light materials, was owned by a certain Christina Luardo.  

 Comar said they had no trouble responding to the fire, describing it as the “easiest operation” they have ever done.

The fire, which only reached the second alarm was under control after seven minutes and damaged P100,000 worth of belongings. It also partially damaged Cebu Kang Ha, a commercial building. Though the three houses were already old, Comar have yet to conclude that the cause of the fire was electrical misuse, adding that they still have no evidence to suggest such cause.  

However, based on their initial investigation, the blaze may have been caused by an electrical circuit overload.

“House owners should consider conducting annual checking of their household to prevent similar incidents from occurring,” Comar said in Cebuano.

Further, he said that the public should also be cautious regarding electrical connections especially during the yuletide season where most houses put up Christmas lights. (FREEMAN)