ORMOC CITY– Fire investigators are probing the blaze that destroyed four houses in Barangay Ugbon, Leyte town, on Thursday afternoon, September 11, causing an estimated P2 million in damage but no reported casualties.
According to police and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started around 5:45 p.m. at the residence of alias “Mary,” a vendor, and quickly spread to nearby homes owned by alias “Lawrence,” alias “Mina,” and alias “Ernest.”
Witnesses told police the fire may have been triggered when a man allegedly spilled bottled gasoline on the pavement and ignited it. The BFP said it managed to contain the blaze and declared it “fire out” at 6:52 p.m., preventing it from spreading to more houses.
Local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether criminal or negligence charges will be filed.
(ROBERT DEJON)
