Fire hits uptown hotel; house razed in Argao

CEBU, Philippines - The basement of an uptown hotel yesterday caught fire causing panic among its guests and employees.  Cebu City fire department received the alarm at 12:30 p.m. and the fire was declared under control 10 minutes later. 

City fire marshal Rogelio Bongabong said that a foam mattress placed next to the generator set in the basement of Crown Regency Hotel along Osmeña Boulevard started the fire.

There were also signs of oil spilled in the basement which may have ignited the fire. Bongabong, however, said that they are still conducting further investigation.

But he believes that the foam mattress may have been used by the hotel’s maintenance crew.

The fire, however, did not cause much damage to the hotel. In fact, the fire department only pegged the damage at P10,000. Hotel guests were allowed to return to their rooms after the smoke settled down.

According to the fire department, it was the eighth fire that hit Cebu City since the opening of the Fire Prevention Month.

Two hours earlier, a fire also broke in Barangay Bogo, Argao town. It was allegedly caused by a five-year-old girl who was left alone playing matchsticks.

Fire Officer 1 Diannah Dano said they received the alarm at 10:25 a.m. A fire truck was immediately dispatched but the house was already razed to the ground when firemen arrived at the fire scene.

Dano said that the girl was left with her one-year-old sister alone in the house of their grandparents. The five-year-old girl reportedly played with matchsticks that accidentally set their grandparent’s house on fire.

The girl immediately called for help after seeing their house was already on fire. Marilyn Mamac, 21, came to rescue the other girl who was left inside the house. — (FREEMAN)