Vidal alarmed by series of fire incidents

CEBU, Philippines - The recent incidents of fire experienced in Cebu City may have been due to negligence on the part of residents and may include the city officials.

This was according to Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal J. Vidal who is himself alarmed of the series of fire incidents - at least three in different areas last week that left 794 families or over 3,350 individuals homeless and caused over P9 million damage to properties.

“It is a sign of negligence. We are not being careful about our way of life and where we spend our things,” Vidals said.

He appealed to the catholic community to pray for the victims for their immediate recovery.

Vidal reminded the public to be careful with materials that usually cause fire like matches, candles, unplugged or appliances and stoves that are not switched off.

He also called the attention of the city government and barangay officials to visit crowded places in Cebu City especially slum areas to inspect if roads are wide enough for emergency vehicles to pass through during emergencies like fire.

“I heard there are places where people are living but vehicles cannot enter. They should look strictly implement boundaries, they should tell the people not to occupy the roads,” he said.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has instructed the city engineers to re-block the area in T. Padilla caught by fire last Monday before they would allow the residents to go back and rebuild their houses.

Existing roads will be widened while more access roads will be provided as part of the disaster preparedness of the place.

Rama earlier admitted that they are having a hard time convincing people in other areas to widen their roads to the prescribed size because people along the roadside who will be affected are not willing to give up even a little portion of their lot.

Vidal said that the recent fire incidents are a kind of disaster being experienced all over the world but he said that it does not mean it is already the end of the world.

Even before investigators could determine the cause of the huge blaze that occurred in T. Padilla, a fire destroyed six houses in Maracas, Lahug and another hit an ancestral house and bodega in Labangon last Saturday.

The series of events reinforces the need for the local government to make preparations ahead instead of being reactionary, a point cited by Rama in the case of purchasing housing materials.

Cebu City Fire Marshal Ishmael Codilla is also losing his job after last Monday’s T. Padilla fire, after Mayor Rama announced that he wants Codilla replaced.

Rama had said he wants a new fire marshall to replace Codilla, who is overstaying. He stressed, though, that the complaints of delayed response have nothing to do with his decision.

Codilla, for his part, had recognized that it is the prerogative of the mayor to choose a new fire chief. (THE FREEMAN)