Fire hits residential area in Cebu City; 10 houses burned

CEBU CITY – At least 10 houses went up in smoke shortly on Saturday night when fire hit a residential area in Cebu City’s commercial district.

The fire of still unknown origin started from the house owned by the late Chief Inspector Simplicio Neñiza in Sitio (sub-village) Macro Ville, Barangay (village) Camputhaw, along the access road leading to the Cebu Business Park.

Neñiza was shot dead allegedly by his son, Glen, following an argument inside their house in September last year. The suspect was arrested shortly after the shooting.

Chief Inspector William Tacaldo, Cebu City fire marshall, said witnesses heard an explosion on the ground floor of Neñiza’s house before the fire broke out at 7:32 p.m. and spread to nearby homes which were made mostly of light materials.

Most of the homeowners in Sitio Macro Ville rented out rooms to students and call center agents especially that the village is located near schools and business process outsourcing companies.

The fire triggered a bottleneck along Gorordo Avenue after traffic was closed from Colegio dela Immaculada to Asilo dela Milagrosa, a distance of about 500 meters, as well as the access road to CBP to allow fire trucks to get into the scene of the fire.

It also triggered panic among a group of elderly holding their Valentine’s Day party in a chapel in Sitio Macro Ville. With a report from Doris C. Bongcac, Inquirer Visayas