Firefighters and police in Santander town, southern Cebu work to put out the flames that devoured the house belonging to a former barangay captain on August 26, 2020. | Photo courtesy of Paul Lauro from dyHP
CEBU CITY, Philippines – A house belonging to a former village chairperson in Santander town in southern Cebu was burned down on Wednesday afternoon, August 26, 2020.
Santander Police Station confirmed this in a phone interview with CDN Digital on Thursday, August 27.
Police Corporal Jennifer Bohol, desk officer of Santander Police Station, said the house was owned by Francisco Miramon Abiso, 80, and the former barangay captain of Talisay in Santander.
Bohol said they received the fire alarm at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. She said that it did not take more than an hour minutes for both firefighters and police to declare a fire out.
“Fortunately, the house was just along the highway so we have no difficulty in dousing the flames. It was officially declared fire out shortly past 3 p.m.,” Bohol said in Cebuano.
Citing findings from fire investigators, police from Santander, a fourth-class municipality located at the southernmost tip of Cebu province, said the fire was caused by a dangling live wire.
“According to fire investigators, there was a live wire hanging near the roof, and a mahogany tree. They traced the origins of the flames there,” added Bohol.
No individuals were injured when the fire broke out, she said.
As of this posting, the Santander Police Station said fire investigators are still coming up with the estimated cost of the damage. / bmjo