Sunday, September 14, 2008 Toddler dies in Samboan blaze; sister injured
A ONE-year-old girl died while her two-year-old sister suffered first-degree burns after they got trapped inside a hut that caught fire Thursday morning in Barangay Galatagan, Samboan town.
Jenny Dumangas Catubig was found dead inside a hut filled with dried dagami leaves used to feed livestock.
Her sister Ressel suffered first-degree burns on her shoulders but managed to crawl out.
The two victims were playing with a four-year-old sister inside the hut when the flames flared up.
Their mother Gina was breastfeeding their youngest sibling while their father was in the farm.
With the family house just 10 meters away, the Catubigs used the hut as a storage room for dried leaves.
Swift
The eldest sister reportedly began playing with a lighter and accidentally set fire to the pile of leaves.
Gina, who rushed out to save her infant, tried to get back inside the hut to get Jenny but failed to get there in time.
PO1 Harold Tudtud of the Samboan Police Station said the leaves were so dry that they immediately caught fire.
He said the neighbors live far and the flames already engulfed the entire hut when they arrived to help.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided assistance to the family. Jenny was buried yesterday.
In Cebu City, two fires struck at dawn, affecting four residences. No one was hurt, though.
The first alarm was received at 1:47 a.m. from Barangay Buhisan.
The house of Purita Cañada was razed, but the fire was controlled in two minutes and did not spread to other structures.
Damage was placed at P90,000.
SFO1 Ali Kaseem Espinola, fire investigator, said the fire began in the dirty kitchen.
Five minutes later, another fire was reported on Acacia St., Barangay Lahug.
Flames destroyed the houses of Albert Arriba, Jonah Dalida and damaged that of Patricia Oberastorre.
The Bureau of Fire Protection’s official report stated that the fire originated from Arriba’s servants’ quarters.
Firefighters controlled the blaze, which was placed under third alarm, in 40 minutes.
The value of lost property was pegged at P600,000.
The fire department has yet to determine what caused the Cebu City fires. (MEA)
