20160504 Philippines Fire destroys chapel, 13 houses
Philippines May 03 2016 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire destroys chapel, 13 houses
Updated: 2016-05-04-00:00
Thirteen houses were destroyed while a chapel was gutted by a fire that broke out past 4 p.m. yesterday in Barangay Pitalo, San Fernando town, causing damage estimated at P600,000.
Inspector Cecile Alicaya, San Fernando Fire Marshal said, the fire reportedly started at the back of the San Vicente Ferrer Chapel around 4:30 p.m. yesterday.
She said that alarm was only received at 5:05 p.m. and firefighters from the station rushed to the area.However, because the area was congested, they raised the alarm level to third alarm.
Firefighters from as far as Cebu City and neighboring municipalities responded to contain the fire.
They declared the fire under control 45 minutes after arriving at the scene but by then 13 houses had already been destroyed, as well as the interior and the roofof the chapel.
Residents believe the fire started after a worshipper reportedly litP5,000 worth of candles in the chapel and then left them behind. Theidentity of the worshipper is still subject to investigation.
Thefire caused traffic along the stretch of the national road in the barangay asfirefighting vehicles were given priority.
San Vicente Ferrer Catholic Association President Cary Manlosasaid they will ask a safety engineer to examine chapel’s structure before starting repairs on that chapel which was reportedly built in 1925.
Barangay officials rushed to the scene to account for the victims of the fire and extend financial support.
Web Source: Philstar
http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2016/05/04/1579777/fire-destroys-chapel-13-houses