Fire razes 40 houses in Basak-San Nicolas

A dawn fire destroyed at least 40 houses in sitio Panagsama, barangay Basak-San Nicolas, yesterday, making it the seventh major fire to hit the city this month.

Firefighters from different city fire sub-station and fire volunteers from the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation and Filipino-Chinese Fire Brigade rushed to the scene after receiving the alarm that was first reported around 2:55 a.m.

Firefighters declared the fire under control 20 minutes after they arrived at the scene.

According to SFO2 Felix Romero, the duty fire investigator of Cebu City Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire started at the ground floor in the two-story house of Edmund Apiag, the house is reportedly made of light materials.

City Fire marshal Esmael Codilla raised the incident to third alarm because of the threat of the fire spreading to neighboring sitios.

Firemen said no one was reported hurt but photographers reported taking a picture of Apiag after he sustained burns in his back after the tried to extinguish the fire in his house.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of fire but pegged the damage at P800,000.

Fe Esrael, a member of the barangay Basak-San Nicolas Gender and Development said at least 75 families lost their homes to the fire and are now temporarily taking shelter at the Panagsama basketball court near the fire scene. — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP