Fire razes 30 houses in Cebu City

CEBU CITY – At least 30 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit Sitio  Mecabaha, Duljo Fatima, Cebu City on Sunday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Rogelio Bongabong, Cebu City fire marshal, said the fire broke out at 5:02 p.m. and damaged P400,000 worth of properties.

No one was reported injured, but the alarm was raised to second alarm before it was put under control 20 minutes later.

Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who  chairs the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC), said the fire started at the three-story house of Cirstobal Semontiza in Mecabaha.

Semontiza  said the fire started on the 3rd floor of the house occupied by his brother Zenon.

Semontiza said the family of his brother noticed that the ceiling was already on fire. When they tried to douse  it with water, the fire became bigger.

He said they believe the fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring because it started from the ceiling.

Since the fire quickly spread to the entire house, Semontiza said they failed to save any belonging  because they all rushed outside the house.