CEBU – About a hundred people were left homeless and property worth P800 thousand went up in smoke in an early afternoon fire that razed a portion of Villagonzalo Dos, barangay Tejero yesterday.
A total of 13 houses, mostly made of light materials, were burned in the fire that was believed to have been sparked by an electrical short circuit.
The fire victims coming from 25 families are now temporarily sheltered at a vacant warehouse beside to old provincial jail.
Investigator SFO2 Felix Romero said the fire department received the alarm at 12:44 in the afternoon.
A total of 15 fire trucks from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay were deployed to the fire scene. The fire was put under control after 37 minutes since the first fire truck arrived.
Romero said that the fire originated from a house owned by George Alcayan, but rented by Mary Ann Dumangas.
Investigators said that Analou Aton, 16, who works as a helper, was left at home with the two children of Dumangas.
Aton said that after she took a bath, she heard the children shouting, “kayo! Kayo!”
When she went downstairs, she saw that a fire has already started and she immediately brought the children upstairs where they escaped through the window.
Romero said that Aton told the investigating team that she saw the fire coming from the outlet where the refrigerator and electric fan were plugged.
It did not take a long time for the fire to engulf the whole house and then it spread to the neighboring structures.
Aton said that the refrigerator and the fan were always plugged.
Fortunately, there was no report of casualties or injuries from the incident said Romero.
The investigator said that the windy condition contributed to the rapid spreading of the fire.
Firemen also had a hard time getting into the interior portion as the narrow roads prevented them from brining the trucks closer to the scene.
Residents complained that the firemen took time to respond to the alarm, but Baring said that the difficulty of reaching the fire scene was compounded by the presence of vehicles that were parked on the narrow roads.
The owners of the vehicle also reportedly did not bother to move them or took time to do so.
Fire Inspector Demetrio Baring said that only two firetrucks were able to get close enough to the scene and they had to connect hoses to other trucks to draw water.
“Naay mga sakyanan nakabara sa dalan, duna pay mga tawo. Di man nila kuhaon dayon bisan kabalo sila nga naay sunog,” Baring said.
Among those left homeless and whose houses were partially burned were Antonio Lao, Andy Lao, Cocoy Lao, Rodrigo Lao, Romeo Lao, Baby Lao, Mario Hinocor, Helen Uy, Bebe Roda, Ricardo Amores, Leonardo Basnillo, and Fredo Arujado.
The city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services immediately visited the area and conducted assessment of the victims.
The Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council Committee headed by Councilor Gerry Carillo said they have started providing food assistance.
CCDCC is also finalizing the list of victims.
Carillo said the city will provide food and construction materials instead of financial assistance. — (/NLQ) (THE FREEMAN)