Fire hits 5 homes near port

CEBU, Philippines — Four days before Christmas, a fire hit a residential area in front of Pier 1 in Barangay San Roque, Cebu City yesterday noon, affecting more or less 30 individuals living in at least five houses.

According to City Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon, the damage was estimated to be around P50,000. No one was injured from the incident.

Some of those affected were vendors at the pier area.

Based on the initial investigation, the origin of the fire was traced to the Port Christian Center but the exact cause was yet to be established.

Ababon said three of the five houses were burned down while the other two were partially damaged.

The fire alarm was received at 11:57 a.m. and was raised to second alarm at 12:08 p.m. It was eventually declared under control at 12:11 p.m. and fire out at 2:30 p.m.

“Pag-ingon nga Pier 1, unya residential, kahibaw naman ta unsa kasikit ang mga balay. Sakto ra pud na ilang gisaka dayon sa second alarm (They had to raise it to the second alarm because the houses there are close to each other),” Ababon said. —/JMD (FREEMAN)