Fire leaves 500 Butuan City residents homeless

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines - Local firefighters blamed narrow roads in failing to immediately put out a fire that engulfed a residential area and razed a nearby commercial warehouse in this city that left some 500 families were left homeless Wednesday afternoon. It took firefighters from Butuan City's Bureau of Fire Protection three hours to put the fire under control. By that time, some 300 houses in Puroks 7, 8, 9 and 12 and a softdrink warehouse in Brgy. Limaha have already been destroyed. The fire of still undertermined origin started 10 a.m. and was put under control at 1 p.m. No casualties were reported during the incident. SFO4 Mario Palarca, City Arson Investigator , said narrow roads leading to Brgy. Limaha made it hard for firefighters to immediately get to the area while winds fanned the flames. He added that an investigation to determine the cause of the fire is ongoing. Victor Abucejo, Limaha barangay chairman, said the homeless families were evacuated to an elementary school in the barangay. - Alden Pantaleon, GMANews.TV