AT LEAST P3 million worth of properties were damaged by an early morning fire on J. Climaco Street, Barangay Pahina Central, Cebu City on New Year’s eve, December 31, 2022.
The fire destroyed six houses, damaging three others and displacing 11 families or 57 individuals.
According to officials of the Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO), the fire was placed on first alarm at 5:28 a.m., and was under control at 5:49 a.m.
Fire Officer 1 Pedie Canillas, the investigator on site for CCFO, said the fire reportedly started at a boarding house owned by a certain Leonar Buendia.
Canillas said boarder Stephen Bilocura was the first to notice the fire who then alerted the other occupants.
In an interview with Radio DyHP RMN Cebu, Bilocura said they suspect that electrical failure might have been the cause of the fire that immediately spread onto the ceiling.
Buendia’s relative, Jun, was the only one who was hurt during the fire.
Jun said he sustained minor burns after he tried to climb up their house to get their fire extinguisher but failed.
Canillas said that aside from Jun and Buendia, they will also gather testimonies from the boarding house’s other occupants.
The affected residents were temporarily evacuated at the barangay hall. (AYB, TPT)