Matches, faulty wiring seen to cause Cebu City fires

THE Dec. 10 fire that destroyed 250 houses  and displaced more than 1,600 residents in barangays Carreta and Tejero was  caused by children playing with matches, Cebu City Fire Marshall Rogelio Bongabong said yesterday,

The fire started on the second floor of the house of Luz “Dading” Barda.

“Based on the accounts of the witnesses that we invited,  that’s what caused the fires,” he said.

Bongabong said the investigation of the Dec. 14 fire in barangay Parian  is ongoing but they suspect faulty wiring as the cause.

The Parian fire killed a 4-year-old girl trapped in her room and severely burned six people aside from destroying two houses.

Bongabong also said they are nearing the completion on their investigation of the Dec. 11 fire that broke out in Quiot, Pardo. He added they record many fire outbreaks in December due to the misuse of Christmas lights.

This month’s rotational brownouts also caused appliances that were unplugged to overload due to the sudden surge in electricity.

Bongabong reminded the public to unplug appliances and other lights when they leave their homes.

Bongabong also said the public should buy Christmas lights that are approved by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

They should also avoid tangling the wires and plugging in several appliances onto  single extension outlets.

Bongabong said they already sent a letter to the Cebu City government asking that roads leading to fire sites should be widened to make it accessible to fire fighters. Correspondent Michelle Joy L. Padayhag