Thursday, October 18, 2007 Fire razed P4 million in properties: bureau By Syril G. Repe
AT LEAST 15 establishments, including a three-door apartment, were gutted by fire that hit the south end of Perdices commercial area Tuesday dawn, fire officials in Dumaguete Citysaid.
Initial fire investigations showed that the fire started at the Color Kingdom Paint House and spread to nearby establishments.
The Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the loss to be around P4 million.
Gobbled up by the fire were the Color kingdom Paint House, Harving Shoes Surplus, Dental clinic, Globel karaoke bar, Gensen Auto parts, Fely's beauty salon, Pacific Agrivet Supply, Asian lending, Natasha display center, Leah's Pawnshop, Chibugan eatery, Tingting motorcycle for rent, Medical Cooperative, a three-door apartment, and other offices.
Arson investigator Rico Bandeling said they are still determining the cause of the fire but added they are not discounting faulty electrical wiring as the reason.
Bandeling said they are also investigating reports about the syndicate operating in the city that sets fire to establishments after robbing them.
A businessman believed that the series of fire incidents in Dumaguete City are not simple cases of "faulty wiring incidents."
The businessman, who refused to be named for fear of reprisal, said his establishment was among those burned by the series of fire incidents after the attempt to rob him. He said some factors preempted the robbery.
The businessman suspects there is a syndicate of robbers operating in the city.
