550 homeless in Sambag 1: Fire razes 64 homes

CEBU, Philippines- A total of 550 individuals comprising 155 families were left homeless after a fire destroyed 58 houses and damaged one house and a Christian school past 11 p.m. Sunday in Barangay Sambag 1, Cebu City. Damage was estima-ted at P1 million.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Ariel Balajadia of the Pahina Central Fire Sub-Station said that the alarm was received at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday and was elevated to Task Force Alpha at 12:04 a.m. yesterday.

The affected residents accused their neighbor, Emmanuel Camillo, of starting the fire, an allegation that he vehemently denied. He is now detained at the Fuente Police Station while the investigation is ongoing.

The residents said the fire started at the Camillos’ residence after he allegedly slammed a butane canister after a fight with his mother.

But both Emmanuel and his wife denied the accusation and said that they were sleeping when they noticed that one of their walls was already on fire.

Emmanuel said that he immediately asked for help from neighbors even though he was only in his underwear, but the fire spread too quickly.

He denied allegations he slammed a butane canister that caused the fire.

“Ngano’ng ako man nang buhaton nga maapil mi ug akong pamilya og kamatay?” he said, adding he was barely able to save his five-year-old daughter from the flames.

Emmanuel’s younger brother also denied the accusations, saying that the fire did not start in Emmanuel’s room but the adjacent room occupied by their uncle Rusty.

He said a candle left unattended caused the fire. Rusty was allegedly outside the house washing a car nearby when the fire broke out. 

“Dili ako ang dapat nga naa diri. Dapat kato si Rusty ang naa diri,” said Emmanuel as he let his frustration out.

Balajadia said all of these statements are just allegations and they still have to invite witnesses to their office to execute an affidavit.

Nothing saved

Jake Cuizon, 39, whose house was just a meter away from the Camillo residence, said he was awakened by the commotion. When he checked he saw that his mother’s room was already on fire.

He checked their rooms one by one to make sure that nobody was left behind and then he jumped from the window to escape the flames. Like most of the fire victims he and his family were not able to save anything from the fire.

A 30-year-old woman, who refused to be named, was also only able to save her mother and an image of the Santo Niño when they saw that the fire was already nearing their house.

Firefighters from as far as Minglanilla came to help put out the flames.

The fire was declared under control at 12:59 a.m., but it took until 6:17 a.m. on the next day for the flames to be completely put out.

Those left homeless are now at the covered court in Sitio Tangkongan, Sambag 1, and were provided food by the Department of Social Welfare Services and the barangay.

The Quick Response Team, under the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management, also assisted in securing the affected families and transferring their saved belongings.

The First Baptist Church Christian School’s operations will be halted by the school administration for two weeks after the fire gutted the third floor of the church and school compound. Pastor Noel Alvarez said that the school cannot compromise the security of the students.

Sambag 1 Barangay Captain Lemar Alcover said that he will call for an emergency session with the barangay council to declare the area under state of calamity.

Mayor Michael Rama, who rushed to the fire scene, instructed Councilor Dave Tumulak to study if Sambag 1 needs its own fire truck.

He also asked Tumulak to study if the area needs reblocking, but for now he said the priority is to give the residents a place to stay.

Back to school

As soon as all matters are ready, the evacuees will be transferred to the City Central School along P. del Rosario Street. The city’s Local School Board has coordinated with the head of the Department of Education–Cebu City Schools Division to agree with the public school’s principal.

Rama set an emergency meeting with the involved offices and department with Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella to discuss the incident.

Rama said the school administration should “be a part” in helping the fire survivors, saying that the venue at the sports complex is not conducive for dwelling.

“Bringing them to the sports complex is wrong (however) bringing them to the school, though it might disturb the students a little, but it becomes something that is humane,” he said. — /BRP (FREEMAN)