Pahina fire leaves 16 families homeless on New Year’s Eve

CEBU, Philippines —  A morning fire broke out in Barangay Pahina San Nicolas, Cebu City, and destroyed roughly P2 million worth of properties including eight houses yesterday.

Fire Officer 1 Pedie Canillas of the Cebu City Fire Station said the damages could run to P3 million as they are still investigating the cause of the fire.

According to initial reports, a certain resident named Stephen Belucora admitted that the fire started from his house around 5:26 a.m.

Canillas stated that according to Belucora and some of his neighbors, the fire originated from defective electrical wiring as they heard a popping sound coming from it before the blaze spread out.

But Canillas said they are yet to determine the real cause of the fire at the time.

The fire was raised to its first alarm at 5:28 a.m. before it was finally declared fire out around 6:10 a.m.

Canillas said at least 11 truck of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) were used to put out the fire.

Ester Concha, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), said at least 16 families were affected by the fire and that one house was totally burned.

The fire victims were currently housed at the Regino Mercado Elementary School.

Following what happened, Canillas reminded people to be vigilant of the appliances and other flammable materials inside their houses and make sure to have them checked and safely placed from time to time.

“Dapat kita isip lumulupyo sa usa ka balay mag binantayon lang ta sa atong mga kuryente labi na sa atong mga appliances kanang mangatulog nata or mga mosquito killer ba kaha nga ibutang ras mga kilid-kilid nya kahoy baya na kasagaran atong mga balay diri sa Cebu City. So, mag binantayon lang gyud ta,” said Canillas.

[As a resident of a house, we should be careful with our electricity, especially with our appliances, particularly by the time that we sleep, or mosquito killers that are usually placed on the sides, especially since most houses in Cebu City are made of wood. So, let’s just be careful. — GMR (FREEMAN)