An electrical short circuit is believed to have caused the fire that destroyed the rest house of Jomax Ortiz in Brgy. Kumaliskis, Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental on March 2.

This was the result of the investigation conducted by Fire Officer 3 Ramil Plaza of the Murcia town Bureau of Fire protection, who responded to the incident.

In his report to DSB Police chief, Varie Villalobos, a copy of which was obtained by the DAILY STAR yesterday, Plaza said that he found no evidence or any material that ignited the fire.

Plaza said the electricity at the rest house of Ortiz was not switched off when his caretaker, Merlinda Ablancia left to help in the wedding preparations of their neighbor at the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal parish.

He also recommended that the case be temporarily closed. The fire that hit the rest house of Ortiz at about 10 p.m. on March 2 originated at its second floor that is made of light materials, and easily spread due to strong wind, reports from the Murcia BFP showed.

Ortiz had earlier said he believed the fire was intentional.*APN

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