COTABATO CITY, (PNA) — Fire officials here said Saturday that defective electrical circuit triggered a fire that razed to the ground several houses in Barangay Poblacion 7, Cotabato City on All Saint’s Day.
Fire Superintendent Adam Guiamad, city fire chief, said about P150,000 worth of properties were damaged during the conflagration which started at 11:45 a.m.
“The houses were made of light materials so fire quickly spread,” Guiamad said, adding that fire fighters managed to prevent the fire from spreading further to more residential houses.
“We save a Mosque when firefighters focused its firefighting on houses near the holy place,” he added.
He said the fire originated from the house of a certain Ali Casuyo with the fire emanating from electrical wiring.
Guiamad lauded the fire volunteers which the fire department had trained for firefighting.
“They are our first responders because we cannot be at the fire scene as fast as people want us to be due to many factors like road network, distance and presence of obstacles along narrow passage ways,” Guiamad said.
Fire volunteer Taya Omar was slightly wounded during the firefighting activities.
Guiamad said the city fire office had been on full alert status since the barangay elections until after the commemoration of “Undas” or the day when Catholics honor the dead.
Guiamad reiterated earlier fire bureau’s reminders to the public that in going to cemeteries, all appliances should be unplugged.
“It is important to have someone take care of the house when other household member is in the cemetery,” he said.
At least five fire incidents were reported in the city since January.