Sunday, August 17, 2008 Now that's a fiery catfight
TWO quarreling cats reportedly caused a stove to fall and start a fire on Junquera Ext., Barangay Sta. Cruz, Cebu City yesterday morning.
Maricar Ocampo, one of those who lost a home, suffered cuts in her arms while trying to escape from the flames.
Barangay Captain Jerome Lim said at least five houses were destroyed and two were damaged by the fire, which the City Fire Department said razed P900,000 worth of properties.
In a report, SFO2 Alikasem Espinola said an unattended portable liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove caused the fire.
Lim told radio dyAB that based on initial information he received, two fighting cats hit the stove and knocked it to the ground, which triggered the blaze.
Espinola identified the house owners as Lucita, Maricar and Marilou, all surnamed Ocampo; Phoebe Lundy; and Cirila Marquita.
The damaged houses belonged to Valentin Pasina and Bobby Lozada.
Espinola said the fire began in the house of Lucita, whose housemaid was reportedly cooking when the incident occurred.
The fire department received the alarm at 10:01 a.m. and reported the blaze was under control in 15 minutes.
Government firefighters as well as those from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade responded to the alarm.
Lim said the displaced families will be sheltered inside the barangay hall.
Action officer and Cebu City Councilor Gerardo Carillo also said social workers were told to assess the situation and provide food for the victims. (JST)
