Probers eye candle in shabu session as cause of big Cabadbaran fire

By BEN SERRANO
Correspondent

CABADBARAN City, Agusan del Norte––Authorities are looking into reports that a candle used in a shabu session caused the fire that destroyed 93 houses, and left 108 families homeless here last weekend.

FO1 Neil Jarena, an investigator from the Cabadabaran City Fire Marshall’s Office, said the fire destroyed some P5 million in property.

“We are considering the possibility that the fire was caused by a lit candle used in a shabu session. That keeps on cropping up in the course of our investigation,” said city fire marshall Peter Montaus, adding that the community is known as “little shabu tiangge.”

Montaus however said there were other angles that investigators were looking into like the possibility of faulty wiring, arson or an unattended lamp.

The fire broke out in the morning of Sept. 26, razing down 93 houses in Barangay 6 and Barangay 7.

Cabadbaran City Social Welfare and Development Office assistant chief Josephine Demoral said many of the victims were being housed at the Caraga State University Gym. She said relief aid such as food, medicines, blankets, and potable water, among others, were being provided by city hall.

Demoral said the Saturday fire the biggest fire so far in the capital of Agusan del Norte.