Catbalogan reels from another fire

By NIMFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
November 30, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Barely relieved from the fire and controversy that hounded the presence of a burnt teen-ager  from the damaged Lester Lace Grocery in downtown Catbalogan, another blaze has rendered Catbaloganons hurting from a fire that gutted residential houses near the market for three hours on Tuesday (November 28).

Based on a spot report prepared by investigator SFO1 Leonito Inovejas, fire started at 8:40 PM in Purok 1, Barangay 12, this town.

Further, the report cited that the fire started in a two-storey residential house owned by Alibasa Mamaki, made of semi concrete materials and GI roofings.

Estimated damage has yet to be determined and some 39 residential houses have been reportedly burned though not yet confirmed by investigators. Fire reached a general alarm Inovejas wrote.

It will be recalled that on May 3, 2006, a fire destroyed Samar ’s DTI provincial office.  Then again in September 14, 2006 another fire in San Bartolome Street caused a P 2.5 M damage. On November 14, 2006 another fire causing a P5M damage destroyed Lester Lace Grocery on the corner of Allen and Rizal Sts. The body of a teen-ager named Janine Paulin was discovered amid the debris of the burnt grocery store.

Then again on November 25, another fire in Camp Lukban took place. Unconfirmed reports have it that the fire damaged some firearms left by soldiers in their bunks.

Senior Inspector Daniel Salvatierra in a file interview with DYMS during the Fire Prevention Month in March has then reminded all Samarnons to be very careful; to check on electrical wirings that may cause fire.