Samar News, November 16, 2006
A big fire totally destroyed Lester Lace Branch 1 Grocery at the corners of San Roque street and Allen Avenue this town at 10:45 in the evening of November 14, 2006.
Ground Commander, Senior Inspector Daniel Salvatierra of the Catbalogan Fire Station said that Dr. Leo Lofranco, owner of Lester Lace Grocery pegged the damage at P5M. This, the fireman said, does not include damages from other establishments and houses that were partially damaged.
Reported partially damaged were a barber shop, a Videoke Bar, a 2-story residential house owned by Abe Abolencia, and another house owned by Felicisima Aguirre.
A fireman, SFO3 Cresente Bacay suffered third degree burns on his right arm in the course of firefighting done by the Catbalogan Fire Unit, the chief reported.
Salvatierra acknowledged the best coordination done at the fire scene saying, "for the first time, crowd control by the PNP was perfect, KABALIKAT (a volunteer communications group) did not intrude too much and the crowd was disciplined."
He also mentioned that fire trucks immediately arrived for back up from the Catbalogan Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade, Paranas, Pinabacdao and Calbayog City fire stations.
The fire chief said that two barangay officials named Dionisio Sison, Francisco Aguilar and a civilian named Apple Abuyen came rushing to the fire department to report the blaze.
Salvatierra also mentioned the Catbalogan Water District Manager Uy who was instrumental in constructing fire hydrants that proved very helpful.
The Fire Chief said that this was the biggest fire that hit Catbalogan this year, just a few months ago, the Department of Trade and Industry provincial office was burned with an estimated damage of P3M.
