FIVE fires broke out in the cities of Talisay, Naga and Cebu and in the southern town of Argao on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.

In Sitio Atisan, Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City, a fire started around 11:20 a.m. and was declared out after more than an hour.

The fire, which razed at least 60 houses, allegedly originated in the house of Wilson Labuca. Damage estimates were placed at around P1.5 million. Nobody was hurt.

FO2 Mar Dee Auxtero of the Talisay City Fire Station said they are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.

Around the same time in Barangay Inayagan, City of Naga, fire razed the house of Eduardo Catabas, causing P50,000 worth of damage.

Around 2:20 p.m., fire struck a livestock farm in Sitio Pawa, Barangay Usmad in Argao.

Rosely Gonzales, a resident of the area, told SunStar Cebu the farm had thousands of egg-laying chickens, as well as goats and cows, which were housed in 25 air-conditioned enclosures.

The report didn’t say if all the animals perished.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) also posted on its Facebook page two fire incidents on Tuesday afternoon: One was in Villa Leyson in Barangay Bacayan, while the other was in Sitio Bagumbayan in Barangay Tinago.

The fire in Villa Leyson was reported at 5:35 p.m. and was declared out at 6:01 p.m.

The fire in Sitio Bagumbayan was reported at 5:52 p.m., and was declared out at 6:04 p.m.

The CDRRMO post did not provide details on the cause of the fires or the extent of the damage, as of press time.

March has been designated as Fire Prevention Month nationwide to promote and raise fire safety awareness. (AYB/TPT)