On Dec. 25 and 26: Fire hits 3 areas in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines  – Fires of still undetermined origin swept three areas, two on Christmas Day and another the following day, December 26.

The first two—one along Gallares Street and the other in barangay Guiwanon of Baclayon town, about 6 kilometers from this city—occurred almost at the same time at past 4 a.m., while the third one, along J. A. Clarin Street, a national highway, came the following day or Monday.

There was no casualty in the incidents but one firefighter got a slight bruise on his nose.

In Baclayon town, the fire gutted mostly the ceiling of a five-door apartment owned by a certain Imelda Jumawid.

In an exclusive interview, Guiwanon barangay chairman Adolfo Alo said he was informed by neighbors, from the back of the apartment building who were on a videoke binge, that a smoke was coming from the apartments. This prompted Alo to call the fire department of Baclayon.

Source of the fire remained sketchy because the BFP could not yet pinpoint how it began.

Witnesses however said it looked like it started at the first door, whose occupant, a foreigner, was out of town. The fire quickly swelled and spread into the adjacent apartments through the ceiling, they said.

This city’s and Baclayon firefighters joined forces to put out the fire, which they did at past 7 a.m. or three hours after. Estimate of the damages have yet to be determined, said BFP officials.

On the same day (Dec 25), an internet cafe and financial office along Gallares street here was also torched purportedly by still unidentified perpetrators in what BFP described as “robbery-arson” motive.

No one was hurt after the firefighters were able to control the fire. Cost of the damage including computer units were not known yet.

The following day, four business establishments in a building along J. A. Clarin street also caught fire of still unknown origin.

Cause of the fire, pegged at P500,000, was still being investigated but this early a robbery angle has been looked into. —(FREEMAN)