Mar 12, 2009 (DVB), The fire brigade despatched to tackle the Myingyan blaze on Monday, which left hundreds homeless, have reportedly demanded that locals pay the cost of the gasoline used to by the fire engines to reach the fire.

"The fire-brigade demanded we pay them the price of gasoline used by the engines during the time of the fire; five gallons per engine for seven of them in total," one local said.

Another Myingyan resident said that at least the local people had the fire brigade to thank for not charging them the cost of water used to extinguish the fire.

The fire destroyed around 70 houses, as well as some hostels of the Government Technological Collage, leaving nearly 200 students with nowhere to stay.

Residents have voiced concern over whether the victims would even retain their plots of land, claiming that authorities often kept hold of them and relocated residents to areas outside of town.

Reporting by Naw Say Phaw