SOME P2.5 million worth of commercial structures, valuables and personal belongings were damaged when a fire hit Eddie Gold compound along Vamenta Boulevard, Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday, April 10.

Razed were the newly-upgraded G-7 computer house, some eateries and boarding houses that occupied part of the commercial haven for student-boarders and local entrepreneurs owned by businessman Edgardo Yee.

“Hurot gyod tanang butang sa akong anak. Wala gyoy nabilin,” said Epipanio, a father of student-boarder Renan Maglasang.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Samson Velarde, who survived electrocution, told SunStar Cagayan de Oro that the fire was put under control in less than 30 minutes.

“As head of the fire station in Carmen, dili nako malimtan nga nakuryentehan ko in the line of duty mismo gyod sa maong dapit nga ako nang gi-consider nga puloy-anan. Half of my body binhod pa kaayo,” Velarde said.

Fire probers are still investigating several angles of the incident including a reported “over-heated” rice cooker in one of the boarding houses.