Fire in Oro leaves 30 families homeless

SOME 30 families lost their homes as 22 houses caught fire in Barangay 34, in Cagayan de Oro early dawn Saturday. Senior Fire Officer 2 Jun Galang, fire investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Cagayan de Oro Fire District, said the blaze started around 4 a.m. It was declared under control by around 4:30 a.m. A resident was reported injured after jumping from the window as she panicked when the fire broke out. Galang said the fire began at the house of Mamerto Camingaw particularly at the second floor occupied by boarders. The fire department estimated the cost of damage at P350,000. Fire investigators are still conducting investigation to determine to the cause of fire. "But we suspect that it is because of a mosquito coil or cigarette since the second floor didn't have electricity and no one lit a lamp," Galang told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. It was also learned that Camingaw's house had no electricity of its own as it only tapped illegally from one of the neighbors. "Only the first floor had electricity," fire investigator said. Affected families are now temporarily sheltered in the covered court