Fire hits retired colonel's house

CEBU, Philippines - A fire razed the house of a retired colonel at 3 p.m. yesterday in Ramona Village, sitio Dawis, Tabunok, Talisay City.

SFO1 Marcelino Aquilar, duty investigator of the Talisay City Fire Department, pegged the damage to the house of Ret. Col. Roger Oles, 64, of the new defunct Police Constabulary at P250,000.

Based on the initial investigation, the fire started at the basement where his wife reportedly lighted old newspapers to kill termites.

Aquilar said the wife reportedly turned her back on her present work to attend to her laundry.

The house, which was made of both concrete and light materials, was "totally" destroyed, said Aquilar.

The nearby laundry area was spared.