Man dead, 2 hurt in fire

CEBU, Philippines — “Ari ra ko diri, dong. Mao ni gisugo ni Senyor Santo Niño nako.”

These were allegedly the last words of Mario Abella, 65, who died in a fire that also hurt two other persons in Sitio Lacros, Barangay Labangon, before dawn last Thursday.

Cebu City fire marshal, Chief Inspector Noel Nelson Ababon, said firefighters received the alarm at 2:32 a.m. The fire allegedly started in the house of Abella, who was the only fatality in the incident. It was considered under control at 3:25 a.m.

Twenty-three houses made of light materials were destroyed by the fire and damage was estimated at P400,000.

Ababon said they are still investigating what caused the fire, but James Paul Adorable, 27, Abella’s nephew, claimed his uncle was boiling water for coffee at the time and this might have caused the fire.

He said when he was trying to save everyone trapped inside the burning house, his uncle chose to stay behind, just sitting on his bed.

“Niana siya ‘ari ra ko diri, dong. Mao ni gisugo ni Senyor Santo Niño nako’,” Adorable quoted his uncle as saying.

Adorable eventually escaped through a window along with four others in their household.

A 34-year-old woman suffered first degree burns in her back, while a seven-month-old boy also suffered first-degree burns in the back and left hand during the fire.

Ababon said they had difficulty reaching the fire scene and had to assign personnel to link the hoses from their truck to the affected area.

A man in a Bureau of Fire Protection jacket, but who was wearing shorts, was arrested after he claimed to be a fire volunteer. Ababon said the man, a suspected looter, might face charges for usurpation of authority.

Meanwhile, Flora Bartolome, acting head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services, said a partial report listed 23 houses destroyed by the fire, affecting 217 individuals comprising 47 families.

Some of these families are now housed at the Labangon Sports Complex.

Bartolome said the fire victims will receive financial assistance, housing materials, and a disaster kit containing a blanket, mat, basin, and other necessities.

For the financial assistance, home owners will receive an estimated P20,000; while sharers will get P10,000.

“Mag-validation pa mi, wa pa ko kahibaw kanus-a namo mahatag,” said Bartolome.

The city government will also provide burial assistance for Abella and medical assistance for those injured.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services is still checking whether or not the affected lot is owned by the government. This is the fifth fire in Cebu City this March, Fire Prevention Month. — Raizza G. Aliviado, USC intern BRP (FREEMAN)