SANTIAGO, Ilocos Sur, Jan. 3–A water truck, parked in front of a Rural Health Unit building here and owned by the municipal government of this town, accidentally caught fire when a Grade 5 pupil played matchsticks yesterday morning, a police report said.
Investigators said the schoolboy, 10, apparently toyed with several matchsticks and allegedly threw each ignited ones into the truck open window triggering the fire.
BFP personnel quickly responded and doused off the blaze. Estimate damage on the burned vehicle may cost P80,000, the report said.
The boy admitted responsible for the incident when police interrogated him. He would undergo counseling with the help of his parent who is also a barangay official, the police added.(tsg w/ report from b.r.)
