DENR staff house razed; no one hurt

BAGUIO CITY - A Department of Environment and Natural Resources staff house here was burned down morning of Nov. 3 which authorities said could have been caused by overloaded electrical system or short circuit lines.

Fire Officer Joe Dagson said fire engulfed the DENR staff house located at the City Environment and Natural Resources Office compound in Barangay Gibraltar.

Estimated cost of damages was placed at P100,000.

Initial investigation showed at about 10 a.m. that day, residents noticed smoke coming from a room of the staff house that prompted them to alarm the caretaker and call the Baguio Fire Department.

The caretaker, Rosalie Ursulum, was taking a bath when the residents alarmed her.

She then carried her two sons and rushed to the nearby CENRO office.

CENRO staff who were having a meeting then rushed to the burning house and saved some things and started to put off the fire with water hose and pails of water.

At around 10:10, firemen arrived and put out the fire.

Dagson said that the fire started at the room of Clariza Valdez, a niece of the caretaker.

Valdez was in school when the incident happened.

The staff house was occupied by the caretaker and her family including DENR administrator Johnny Calimag.

The room of Calimag was partially damaged while the caretaker’s room and the living room were totally razed.

Fire Chief Richard Villanueva said the fire spread fast because the house was an old structure and made of light materials.

With the incident, Villanueva urged the public to regularly inspect their electrical systems.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan has ordered the closure of several establishments in the city that are fire hazards and have no business permits on recommendation of the Baguio Fire Department. -- Redjie Cawis