AT least 100 homes in Sitio Lupa Bontores, Barangay San Nicolas, Cebu City were razed in an afternoon fire that is believed to have been caused by four children reportedly playing with matches. Damage to property was pegged at P3 million. The Cebu City Fire Department received the alarm at 2:28 p.m. The firefighting lasted for more than an hour before Chief Insp. Victor Vibares, acting Cebu City fire marshal, declared the blaze under control. Fire trucks from as far as Consolacion town and Lapu-Lapu City and a firefighting team from the Philippine Air Force aided in putting off the fire, aside from firemen of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and the Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade. Vibares estimated the fire scene to be about 500 meters away from the highway. While water supply was not a problem, both Vibares and SFO2 Alikasem Espinola said the poor access road was the primary problem they encountered. Strong winds also fanned the fire that quickly spread to the houses. Most of the fire trucks stayed along the highway; firemen had to connect the hoses to penetrate the fire scene, which Vibares said was time-consuming. Espinola, in a separate interview, said most of the structures razed by the fire were made of light materials. ABS-CBN was joined by UC Nursing CESDEV in packing relief goods for the fire victims. These include rice, sardines and noodles as well as used clothings and blankets.
