Friday, September 05, 2008 Crowd at fire scene gets in firefighters’ way
A FIRE broke out in the interior part of Sitio Lumar, Barangay Lorega San Miguel, Cebu City yesterday and destroyed four houses.
An electrical short circuit was believed to have caused the fire, an investigation conducted by the Cebu City Fire Department said.
Damaged to property was placed at P420,000.
While firefighters did not encounter problems on water supply and access to the scene, some residents tried to snatch the fire hoses from them while others ignored warnings not to crowd the area.
Looters also helped themselves with debris.
FO3 Antonio Gonzales, of the fire department, said the fire started at the room of Evangeline Cantus located at the second floor of the two-story house owned by her father Gregorio Sr.
More houses
The fire spread and destroyed three other houses owned by Gregorio’s sons Tomas and Arthur and John Rosima.
Gonzales said Gregorio believed the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.
Gonzales said they will investigate further.
The Cebu City Fire Department received the call for assistance at 2:18 p.m.
Third alarm
Considering that Sitio Lumar is one of the densely populated areas in the city, the fire department immediately raised the status to third alarm, prompting all fire units to respond.
The Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade and the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation also came to help.
Gonzales said the fire was declared under control 10 minutes later. (JST)
