Christmas last Monday was supposed to be a time for celebration, but not for many families in Maasin City, Southern Leyte and Cupang, Antipolo City that lost their homes to fire on 23 and 24 December, respectively.

Twenty families from Barangay Tagnipa in Maasin City are reportedly sheltering at the nearby Maasin Central School and Saint Joseph College after their homes were destroyed. In the Antipolo City fire, 50 families lost 40 houses.

While the cause of the Maasin fire is still being determined, the Bureau of Fire Protection suspects that the Antipolo City fire may have been sparked by an unattended candle as the house of one victim had no electricity, according to reports.

The BFP blames LPG tank leaks and faulty electrical wiring as the common causes of fires. A fire that gutted three houses on Sunflower Street, Barangay Central Bicutan, Taguig City on 4 December was linked to faulty electrical wiring.

The jobless Balsa apparently got angry because the boiled pork soup (linat-ang baboy) that was served to him tasted bad.

Firecrackers, which are traditionally set off to welcome the New Year, may also cause fires.

A fire in Balamban, Cebu on 17 December, however, had an unusual cause.

Police arrested Gerald Balsa, 39, on suspicion of starting the fire in Sitio Sam-ang, Barangay Pondol.

Balsa allegedly started the fire by burning the foam mattress on his bed, CDN quoted FO2 Gerald Fritz Desierto, investigator of the Balamban Fire Station.

The jobless Balsa apparently got angry because the boiled pork soup (linat-ang baboy) that was served to him tasted bad.

The fire injured Balsa's mother, 60, and left her, his stepfather and his stepbrother homeless.

The suspected arsonist is detained at the Balamban Police Station and faces arson charges.      

WJG @tribunephl_wjg WITH AFP