Sambag 2 fire started at room of burnt man

CEBU, Philippines - A kerosene lamp caused the fire that hit Sitio Kawayan in Barangay Sambag 2, Cebu City late evening Tuesday, which led to the death of 83-year-old Eliuterio Jamiro.

Authorities discovered later that the lamp was at Jamiro’s room and the fire started there. It spread to 21 other houses and left 154 individuals homeless.

“Mura kunog naay gipasiga og nakatog ba tingali to unya napatiran ang gas lamp mao toy nakaingon wala na siya naluwas,” said Senior Fire Officer 2 Lowel Opolentisima.

Opolentisima said because Jamiro had difficulty moving and the multiple locks he had installed at his door made it difficult for him to escape.

He reportedly liked being alone and often locked himself in his room so he would not be disturbed.

His grandson, Giovanni, reportedly noticed thick smoke coming out of his grandfather’s room and immediately knocked and called out his name but the fire spread too quickly, prompting him to run outside for safety and warn his neighbors.

“Gibalik na sa iyang apo. Nang lock man kuno siya unya masakiton sad na siya maglisud og lihoklihok. Siya ra ang nagpuyo sa iyang lugar diin nagsugod ang sunog,” Opolentisima said. 

As firefighters sprayed water at the fire, Giovanni could only shout his helplessness and blamed himself for failing to save his grandfather.

It took the firefighters about 40 minutes to contain the fire.

Opolentisima said it was difficult to contain the fire because the houses were located very close to each other and the area is in the interior portion of Sitio Kawayan. The fire also spread fast because the houses were made of light materials.

Aside from these, there are no available water hydrants in the area so firefighters had to utilize Metro Cebu Water District’s stop-outs. However, the water pressure was reportedly low in the area at that time.

Opolentisima said damage is estimated at least P150,000.

Rebuilding

At the City Hall, Colin Rosell of the city’s Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor said the affected families can rebuild their houses at the area because the National Housing Authority has awarded the lots to them under its housing program.

“Initial assessment is ang property kay sa NHA, ilaha ang housing project diha. Before, ang city government dili makahimo og housing project,” he said.

“The issue in that area is, duha na ka sunog naigo dinha. Sauna nga sunog ug karon. Ang NHA nag-adopt sa re-blocking scheme but ang mga residents ilang gi-encroach ang established nga road,” he said.

Rosell said the city government will coordinate with officials of NHA and the barangay to restore the 6-meter to 6.5-meter wide road in the area for easy access in case of emergency.

“Nabalik na unta ang road before after sa fire but mao lagi, gi encroach sa mga residente. Wala na tay re blocking ang atoa is pag restore na sa road,” he said.

Rosell said he will send a team from DWUP to inspect the area and measure the fire site.  Department of Social Welfare and Services head Dr. Ester Concha, for her part, said her office will validate the listed 21 affected families or 158 individuals.

Concha said a P10,000 financial assistance will be given to each of the families by Friday evening.

She said the city government has already given the P10,000 burial assistance to Jamero’s family. (FREEMAN)