At least 17 maritime students suffered burn injuries in a fire that destroyed eight structures near a university on Alumnus Street in Mambaling village in Cebu City at noon Wednesday.

Sun-Star Cebu reported Thursday that the fire also destroyed a firefighter’s house in the area, no thanks to narrow roads and lack of crowd control.

Firefighters estimated the damage to property at P250,000.

Most of the 17 students, who suffered first-degree burns in their arms, necks and faces, were practicing for this Saturday’s graduation rites inside the gymnasium of the University of Cebu-Maritime Education Training Center (METC) when the fire broke out at 11:25 a.m.

It started in an eatery some 10 meters across the gate of the UC–METC and reached the third alarm, forcing students to run outside for fear the fire will reach their boardinghouses.

Fanned by strong winds, the flames burnt the skins of the students as they scrambled to safety with their clothes, books and other valuables.

Cebu City fire marshal Esmael Codilla lamented that he nearest access road to the fire scene is only about three meters wide, making it difficult for the fire trucks to penetrate.

SFO2 Frank Donozo, who is investigating the incident said this forced firefighters to line up the trucks and connect the hoses just to reach the fire scene.

On the other hand, Codilla said curious onlookers also contributed to their woes, ignoring firefighters’ appeals to clear the area.

Initial investigation showed the fire started in an eatery owned by Freda de la Peña, 50.

The fire then spread to three Internet cafés and the house of FO2 Michael Saberon, a member of the Cebu City fire department. Two other houses were also damaged.

Donozo pegged the damage to property at P250,000. The fire was contained in 13 minutes. It was the seventh major fire to occur in Cebu City this month.

He said the fire likely started when her houseboy, whom she identified only as Junpel, was changing an empty cylinder of Pryce Gas with a new one.

She said that Junpel detached the safety lock of the cylinder, accidentally exposing the gas to three nearby burners that were already lighted.

On the other hand, Codilla said the city fire department will "pass the hat" so that financial aid can be extended to help FO2 Saberon.

Saberon is the second fireman whose house was razed by fire this month.

Last March 2, the house of SFO3 Allan Arciaga, chief investigator of the Cebu City fire department, was among the more than 80 houses razed by a fire in Sitio Potat, Barangay Tinago.