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Fire guts Chalan Kanoa house
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Posted on Apr 18 2002
An unoccupied house east of the US Postal Services in CK was gutted with fire very early Wednesday, a mishap suspected to be the handiwork of arsonists.
Trespassers who sneaked inside the abandoned structure may have set fire to the concrete structure owned by Francisco Borja Tudela’s family, a relative said yesterday.
The family member added it was not the first time the 40-year-old house was burglarized by unidentified suspects.
Two months ago, the one-storey structure was vandalized by possibly the same group responsible in setting the house on fire.
Fire fighters were able to contain the fire yesterday morning, after receiving the emergency call at around 6am.
A witness said the fire may have started as early as 3 or 4am and grew full blown a few hours later. No one was reported injured.
Inside, the fire-torn house appeared a total wreck, with the mattress placed on top of the kitchen table, instead of the master’s bedroom—where it’s supposed to be.
Other appliances were also destroyed, while other items were left scattered on the floor—a possible indication that someone ransacked the house prior to the fire.
The family member said that the first time the house was burglarized earlier this year, the suspects also took kitchen wares and other valuables.
With the structure’s current state, the family could barely determine what was missing.
The three-bedroom house has been unoccupied for about four months as the homeowners reportedly had plans to renovate it and put it up for rent.
The family member said he comes up once in a while to check on the place, but somehow the trespassers were still able to penetrate the security by removing glass louvers to get into the house.
Authorities were not immediately able to provide information about the fire incident yesterday, pending a complete investigation.
