At least 30 houses were razed by fire that struck barangay Tabunok, Talisay City, southern Cebu yesterday afternoon.
The fire started in the house of Erlinda Ambayec.
Ambayec’s son, Edgar, said a ceiling fan in his mother’s room was believed to have overheated.
SFO3 Felipe Abarquez, chief arson investigator of Talisay City Fire Station, said the the fire alarm was sounded at 2:58 p.m.
The fire was contained in 15 minutes. Damage was pegged at P150,000.
Edgar, a security guard, told investigators that he was asleep on the ground floor of the house when he was awakened by the sound of electric sparks. He then saw the ceiling of the house already in flames.
Liova Sariantas was injured after debris fell on her while she was trying to save some of her belongings.
Talisay City Councilor Danny Caballero said financial assistance will be given to the displaced families.
Meanwhile, a booth caught fire near the entrance of SM City-Cebu in the North Reclamation Area, Cebu City at 5:14 p.m. yesterday.
The fire was put out at 5:18 p.m., said arson investigator Mesias Ouano.
Ouano said the cause of fire was not immediately known.