Fires damage 2 houses

CEBU, Philippines - A morning blaze razed a two-storey house along Espolarium Street, Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Duljo-Fatima, Cebu City yesterday.

 Around P260,000 worth of property were charred during fire reported at 10:44 a.m.

The house owned by Esperanza Fellizari was reduced to ashes as the blaze spread in seconds and destroyed their house which was made mostly of light materials. 

Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar said the fire started at a second floor room occupied by Alexandra Siba, the family’s helper.

Comar said that Jimmy, one of Esperanza sons who also occupies another room on the second floor was luckily downstairs when the fire broke out. He further said that the source of the fire might be electrical misuse but they are still verifying this.

Few hours after the first fire, another broke out at Bayabas Street, Barangay Mambaling after a child who was left unattended played with matches.

The house owned by Delfin Rivera was not seriously damaged though as the fire was controlled after seven minutes.

Meanwhile, the Cebu City Fire Department will launch a “unified volunteer movement” for the entire Cebu City Government on Sunday at the Pahina Central Fire Station.

The launching of the Cebu City Volunteer Movement Emergency Response is an offshoot to the series of training for the volunteers in fire fighting, water search and rescue, mountain search and rescue.

“The program aims to ensure the sustainability of the spirit of volunteerism and actively involve volunteers in community services particularly in emergency response,” Comar added.

The trainings started last October 16. 

The launching will also highlight the graduation of pioneering volunteers. The group who trained the volunteers includes the Kabalikat Civicom 940 and the Regional Emergency Assistance Communications Team.

The launching will be opened with a mass to be officiated by Fr. Bryan Brigoli.  (FREEMAN)