ORMOC CITY- The Ormoc fire department cautioned the public from using substandard electrical tools following a blaze that turned two houses to ash in Jica, Lao, this city on February 3. The Ormoc Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said that the initial investigation revealed that an electrical short circuit caused the fire citing the statement from Armando Cortes, owner of the house that was gutted down. The combustion emanated from a charging mobile phone that might have been overcharged. Nobody was home then. The fire spread to a nearby house owned by Carmelita Gastalia.
BFP said that when they responded, the houses that were built from light materials were already eaten up by the fire. The flames started at around 8:20 a.m. and BFP recorded the call at 8:33 a.m. No one was reported hurt but the victims failed to save any of their belongings. The initial damage cost was hoisted at P600,000 while waiting for the official declaration from the victims. (ELVIE ROMAN ROA)
