Candles worth P5T spark fire; heritage chapel damaged

A large crucifix was spared from a fire that damaged San Vicente Ferrer Chapel in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando. Only the left arm of the image of Jesus was broken. (CDN PHOTO / TONEE DESPOJO)

A fire that was started by lighted candles –reportedly worth P5,000 — damaged a chapel built in 1925 in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando town in southern Cebu shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The fire also destroyed 13 houses near the chapel of San Vicente Ferrer in San Fernando, about 29 km from here, said town fire marshal Cecil Alicaya.

She said the fire was started by one or two parishioners who lighted several pieces of candles at the same time.

SPO1 Rolando Bastida, who led a team of policemen from the San Fernando police station to the area, said he talked to some witnesses who claimed that at least P5,000 worth of candles were lighted by still unidentified parishioners which triggered the fire.

The chapel was made of concrete and wood, which was easily gobbled up by the blaze.

Alicaya said the fire ate up the ceiling, the roof and a portion of the altar.

While the residents were able to save some religious images, Alicaya said several religious icons were damaged by the fire.

The chapel, she said, could not be used unless it will be rehabilitated.

Episcopal Vicar Msgr Esteban Binghay said that while the edifice was called by the people as church, it was actually just a chapel which was under the jurisdiction of San Isidro Labrador Parish in Barangay Poblacion, San Fernando.

Binghay said the chapel is considered a heritage because it was constructed several years ago.  Based on the façade of the chapel, it was constructed in 1925.

San Vicente Ferrer Chapel in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando has been considered as heritage site. (CDN PHOTO / TONEE DESPOJO)

Binghay said a priest from the main parish would officiate a Mass every Sunday in the chapel. Alicaya said the fire also spread toward the nearby houses, which were made of light materials.

Alicaya said the residents failed to contact the fire department immediately when the fire broke out. While the fire department received the alarm at 5:05 p.m, but Alicaya said she learned that the fire actually started around 4:30 p.m.

Bastida said several residents first tried to put out the fire themselves by dousing it with pails of water.

When they failed to control the blaze, he added the residents decided to call the help of the fire department which managed to control the blaze in 45 minutes.

The incident caused traffic congestion along the national highway from Pitalo toward adjacent Naga City.

Bastida said they closed one lane of the highway to give way to the firetrucks.

Firetrucks from Naga, Talisay, Minglanilla and Carcar city helped in the operation.