Man charred to death in dawn fire

CEBU, Philippines — A 21-minute fire at dawn tragically claimed the life of a 78-year-old man in Oprra Unit 1, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendell Villanueva, information officer of the Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO), identified the casualty as Zosimo Aspacio, who was burned beyond recognition.

Villanueva said there is a possibility that Aspacio failed to wake up, considering that the fire broke out at 2:22 a.m.

“Dako ang posibilidad nga wala ni siya nakamata atol sa sunog,” said Villanueva, although the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

The fire completely destroyed one house owned by Victor Emnace Jr., where Aspacio and others were residing. Two other houses were partially damaged, affecting a total of 15 individuals from two families.

According to initial reports, boarders of the burned house saw flames at the front of the structure and immediately evacuated. However, it was only during the overhauling process that authorities discovered Aspacio had not been able to escape.

The fire, which was placed under first alarm status, was declared under control at 2:43 a.m. and fully extinguished by 2:50 a.m. The estimated damage is pegged at P160,500.

The Cebu City Government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), has provided assistance to the affected families, including disaster kits, packed meals, rice, and assorted relief goods.

Meanwhile, Cebu City disaster chief, retired fire marshal Aderson Comar, wants to continue training students and non-government organizations on disaster response.

Comar expressed his intention to Mayor Raymond Garcia after receiving a new emergency vehicle for the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRMO).

Comar said he is just waiting the go signal from the Department of Education to start training the students.

“Naaay gi-organize ang Dep-Ed naghulat lang ko sa ilang resulta sa final management conference og unsay resulta, kay mag-start na ta sa training,” Comar said. — /FPL (FREEMAN)