Gusa fire, caused by faulty wirings probers say

By LITO RULONA
and A.L. RICALDE
Correspondents

FAULTY electrical wirings caused the fire that killed a 66-year old helper in Barangay Gusa, this city, on Sunday, the Bureau of Fire Protection said yesterday.

The dawn fire killed Nelly Zapanta of Negros Oriental, and destroyed a house, the bakery Nature’s Bread, and vehicles at Phase 1 of Sta. Cecilia Village.

The fire was sparked by a short circuit, said SFO1 Dennis Dalis of the Cagayan de Oro Fire District.

Dalis said the house where the fire started was rented out to Bienvenido Macaraeg Jr., who also owns the bakery.

He said Macaraeg was renting two adjacent houses — one was turned into a bakery that also housed an office and sleeping quarters.

Macaraeg said he was cooperating with investigators even as he expressed grief over the death of Zapanta who was trapped near a baking area.

“Wala kami’y mahimo ilabi na gyud kay namatay among higala,” Macaraeg said.

Zapanta had served the family for some 40 years, and Macaraeg said they considered her a family member.

The fire also destroyed three vehicles.

Investigators initially placed the damages at P1.2 million.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at around 3:20 am inside a bedroom. Fire fighters placed the situation under control at 5:35 am.

In the evening, another fire broke out in Barangay Igpit, Opol town in Misamis Oriental, razing to the ground an unoccupied house and damaging another.

Officials said the unused house was owned by Perlita Genisan while the damaged house belongs to Filipina Pacheco.

Opol fire station investigator Randy Obsioma ruled out the possibility that the fire was electricityelated.

“Wala naman kini’y linya sa kuryente. Ang mga silingan nag-ingon pud nga nagsiga man ang kuryente adtong milabay nga adlaw pero wala naman pud siyay meter sa kuryente,” Obsioma said.

Hours later, another fire broke out, this time in Barangay Bayabas.

Kauswagan fire station chief Willy Tan said investigators suspected that faulty electrical wirings caused the fire that destroyed the house owned by one Rene Bangcal. The house was being rented by one Mark Anthony Peligrino.

Tan said, “Gi-described pud ni Peligrino nga ang switch sa iyang kuryente dili diretso ga-function og usahay daw ga-init mao nga possible nga electrical short circuit ang hinungdan. Paspas pud ang kalayo because his residence was made of light materials.”