Six houses were destroyed by fire that broke out yesterday in Highway Tagunol, Sitio Wetland, Barangay Basak San Nicolas, Cebu City.
SF04 Roylin Maratas of the Cebu City Fire Department said the fire may have been caused by a lighted mosquito coil, which could have been left unattended while the occupants of one of the six houses were sleeping.
Maratas said they were checking reports that the fire started at Elena Alicante’s house. It quickly spread to neighboring houses which were made of light materials.
Maratas said Alicante’s son told fire investigators that the family placed a lighted mosquito coil near some clothes at a corner of their room before they went to sleep.
The son said they were awakened by the heat of the fire at 2:30 a.m. and only managed to save themselves.
The son said all their belongings were lost to the fire.
The fire, which was raised only to first alarm, was put under control after 15 minutes. No one was hurt, said Maratas.
Damage was estimated at P30,000.