Public warned: Hot season triggers fires

A fireman drags a fire hose as he tries to put out a fire that struck an apartment in barangay Sambag Uno, Cebu City yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

Lighted cigarette butts should be disposed of properly. Parents should watch over their children and stop them from playing with matches. Cars should be checked to detect possible faulty electrical wiring.

Authorities urged the public to take safety measures as the current hot weather could trigger fires.

A series of fire incidents broke out in Cebu City in the past two days.

Around 2 p.m. yesterday, fire razed an apartment in barangay Sambag Uno.

SFO1 Ariel Balajadia said  electrical misuse may have caused the fire which was controlled in 12 minutes.

The fire started on the second floor of the apartment owned by Virginia Ngosiok.

Firemen had to connect their hoses to deliver water to douse  the fire as the area  was inaccessible due to the narrow roads.

The Cebu City Fire Department  recorded a series of grass fires in the first two weeks of March  which is celebrated as Fire Prevention Month.

Last Tuesday, an apartment in barangay Kalunasan caught fire. There were children who were reportedly playing with matches in the apartment before the fire broke out.

Damage was pegged at P50,000.

Also last Tuesday, a passenger jeepney caught fire while traveling on N. Bacalso Road.

FO1 Arnel Chavez said faulty electrical wring may have triggered the fire.

Personnel of nearby establishments were able to contain the flames using fire extinguishers.

A grass fire also broke out in Monterrazas de Cebu and lasted for more than an hour last Tuesday.

Grass fires also took place in a vacant lot in the South Road Properties.

SFO3 Roylin Maratas, chief investigator of the Cebu City Fire Department, said at least four grass fires were reported in the last 11 days in the SRP, San Nicholas, Monterrazas de Cebu, barangay Guadalupe and barangay Lahug, all in Cebu City.

The one in  Beverly Hills in Lahug last March 4 started around 11 p.m. and lasted until past 4 p.m. the next day.

“We can only  stay and watch. We cannot penetrate because of the terrain. We just make sure that the fire does not spread to residential areas,” Maratas said.

Maratas said some areas in South Hills in Pardo and St. Michaels in barangay Guadalupe are prone to grass fires, which are more common in summer.

“Mauga man ni pag-ayo ang sagbot og mahimo siya nga combustible to fire. Kung pataka lang tag labay sa upos sa sigarilyo, maka-cause jud na og sunog. Hasta pod ng magdaub sa basura unya biyaan ra (Grasses dry up during hot season which make them combustible. If we carelessly throw cigaret butts into it, it will cause fire. Unattended bonfires can also cause fire),” Maratas said.

Maratas asked the public to quickly put out grass fires instead of just ignoring them.

“Ang sayop pod kadalasan sa mangayog tabang basta naay sunog kay dili suwayan og pawong. Dapat kung nabantayan nila nga naay kayo, ilang patyon kay magsugod man jud na nga gamay usa mudako (Some don’t exert effort to put out the fire. Grass fires should be immediately put out to prevent it from spreading),” he said.

A sugarcane plantation in barangay Luyang was damaged by fire last Tuesday afternoon.

The  plantation is owned by Alex Perez, 52.

A lighted cigarette butt was believed to have been thrown into the field causing the fire.