A mosquito coil may have been the cause of the huge fire in Poblacion 2 that erupted a few days before Christmas Day.
This was the revelation of Tagbilaran fire chief Sr. Insp. Ben Bradpitt Lopez in a radio interview over “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” on Jan. 31, 2023, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
Lopez said the huge fire made it difficult for the fire probers to conduct an investigation as to the cause of the conflagration.
He said that the local fire department obtained the services of the finest arson investigators in the province and the region to probe the incident.
Lopez said the final investigation report revealed that an unattended mosquito coil could have caused the conflagration at Gallares street on Dec. 23, 2022 affecting 75 families.
The fire chief added that based on tests made by the fire probers, there was no accelerant or substance used in arson that was found in the area. An accelerant could be alcohol or any flammable substance such as kerosene used to start a fire.
In effect, the fire department already ruled out arson as the cause of the fire but may consider the fire as intentional if there will be new evidence that may surface.
Lopez said the earlier reports that surfaced saying there was a person who allegedly threatened arson were unfounded.
No one among the survivors heard about the alleged threat of a person to cause arson in the area, according to Lopez. He added that based on the investigation, there is no concrete evidence to support the allegation that a person made arson threats prior to the fire.
Witnesses pointed out that they saw an unattended active mosquito coil in the room where the fire started, Lopez narrated.
Lopez said the fire department assisted some private complainants to file a case of negligence.
Lopez said the private complainants filed a case of negligence to a certain “Argee” and “Langlang”. It was alleged that the fire erupted in the rooms of Argee and Langlang.