A CELLPHONE believed to have been left charging all night was pointed as the cause of fire in Sitio Sto. Nino, Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City yesterday afternoon.
The fire, which was raised to second alarm, originated from the semi-concrete two-storey house owned by 63-year-old Lorna Caballero Ysalina. Ysalina and her family immediately ran outside of their house when the fire broke out.
The Talisay Fire Department received the fire alarm at 3 p.m.
According to Talisay City Fire Marshal Randy Mendaros, their firefighters and those from Minglanilla and Cebu City fire stations who responded had difficulty entering the fire site because of its narrow roads.
It took them 30 minutes to put the fire under control. The fire was declared out at 4:30 p.m. Mendaros said the fire destroyed at least five houses mostly made of light materials.
The damage was pegged at P200,000. Only a certain Arnel Abatayo was injured with lacerations in his left hand and arm.
Tabunok barangay captain Manuel “Maning” Cabriana told CDN that assistance have been extended to the 13 families who are temporarily staying at the open basketball court near the fire site. Cabriana said that the barangay has provided them with tents with lightings and water dispenser.