Fire leaves 327 personshomeless in Barangay Lorega

CEBU, Philippines — Another fire broke out in Cebu City yesterday this time in Sitio Riverside, Barangay Lorega leaving at least 327 individuals homeless.

Fire Chief Inspector Noel Ababon of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP)-7 said the blaze razed 47 houses and one person suffered minor burns in the face.

The fire, which was caused by a faulty electrical wiring, reportedly started in the house of Zosima Albarado which was made of light materials.

Damage is pegged at P350,000.

The fire was raised to third alarm and it took firefighters almost three hours to completely put it out.

Albarado’s son said the fire must be due to the wire in the ceiling.

“Tungod man ni’s kuryente sa kisame unya gabok naman ang kisame mao to dali na kaayo nidukot ang kayo,” he said.

He said he immediately rushed out of their burning house and secured his children.

He denied that the cause was electrical misuse because all their appliances were switched off and unplugged.

Ababon said that one of their difficulties was access to the interior portion of the residential area because the roads were narrow.

He is thankful that the residents cooperated and placed their belongings on the center island of the road so as not to block the road for the fire trucks and firefighters.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella who went to the site said that the coordination of the firefighters and the force multipliers helped a lot in putting out the fire.

He recommends that the area should be reblocked.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) Head Genevieve Alcoseba confirmed that the area is a private lot.

“ Private lot siya. Naa nay dispute unya usa ana is kay naay compromise ang mga tawo with the lot owner. Dili pa mi kahibaw if kung unsa pa jud setback or reblock.  Dili mi kahibaw if makabalik paba sila,” Alcoseba said over the phone.

Alcoseba added they might have a negotiation meeting with the lot owner this week.

Lea Japson, head of the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) said they are providing pack meals good for three days to the fire victims who are currently staying at the Department of Education (DepEd) building near the area.

The fire victims may receive their financial assistance from the city government after a month of processing.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña lamented that he could no longer provide tents for the the fire victims.

“I ran out of tents already. They’re out of stock. I gave away over 500 tents,” Osmeña said. — Chelsey Gaile B. Lapingcao, Joyce Ann Gabutan and Marienel M. Janea/MBG (FREEMAN)