Altar candles start Lapu-Lapu fire; four houses razed

THREE lighted candles left unattended at the altar of the Alibangbang family house started yesterday’s  late afternoon fire which destroyed at least five houses in Vista Bella Subdivision in barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City.

Four houses including that of Mario Alibangbang’s  were destroyed  while one more was partly  damaged, saidSFO1 Atelano Berido, fire investigator.

No one was injured.

Property damage was estimated at  P280,000.

Berido said the fire started at the second floor of two-story house of Alibangbang in sitio Kagudoy.

Alibangbang earlier had a prayer vigil led by a group of “mananabtan” at the house altar where images of the Senor Sto. Nino and the Sagrada Familia were placed.

The prayer vigil was a yearly custom of the family to honor their dead.

Alibangbang said he bought the three candles for P3 and lighted them during the vigil.

When the prayers were finished, Alibangbang asked  the  women if he should exintugish  the candle but they told him to leave the light burning, which they did.

They  left the candles at the altar and went down for snacks.

A few minutes later, Alibangbang’s son was surprised when he went upstairs to see the altar burning.

He called his father for help but the fire had already spread.

They escaped but the fire razed their house and the package sent by Alibangbang’s wife, who’s working abroad.

The fire also destroyed the houses of Lilibeth Castro, Jegar Apyag and Teresa Dalin. Paul Ignacio’s house was partially destroyed.

The Lapu-Lapu Fire department received the fire alarm at 4:38 p.m. The fire was put out in five minutes after they arrived at the fire scene./Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza