CEBU, Philippines - Six houses were reduced into ashes while three others were damaged when a fire hit Barangay Suba yesterday morning leaving several families homeless.
Three people were slightly injured while trying to salvage their properties amid the raging fire, which left at least P700,000 worth of damage to properties.
Inspector Jose Laurito, deputy city fire marshal, said the fire was reported at 7:50 a.m. and was declared under control 20 minutes later. Because the area was densely populated, the fire department immediately raised the alarm to Task Force Alpha, which means that fire trucks from nearby cities and municipalities were called in to assist in the fire fighting operation.
Initial investigation reveals that the fire started at the third floor of a three-storey house owned by the Danilo Borres, 55, an engineer of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District. He is also the grandson of former Cebu City Mayor Eulogio Borres.
Laurito said there were four families occupying the house, which was mostly made of concrete materials.
Borres’ daughter, Dyna Borres, alleged that she was sleeping at the third floor when her 14-year-old son, David Christian, woke her up and told her about the fire which has started eating up their ceiling.
All family members rushed outside and tried to save their properties. Three of the Borreses suffered minor burns in their arms and faces.
David Christian said they have tried putting out the fire with buckets of water but failed. 15 people, he said, were living in the house. The family’s dog named “Totol” was trapped inside the house. Dandy Borres, 30, Danilo’s son, was able to retrieve the dog but died of smoke inhalation.
Rosario Daymiel, 52, whose house is situated beside the Borreses’ said that when she woke up the fire was already big. Daymiel frantically woke her children up and rushed outside. They were not able to save anything, including the P10,000 bonus, which her husband recently received from MCWD.
Fire investigators are still investigating what caused the fire. Some members of the Borres family alleged that the altar at the third floor may have started it. Laurito said they will invite the family members to shed light on the incident.
Barangay Captain Rogelio Resurreccion said the barangay will extend assistance to the affected families who are now temporarily sheltered at the barangay sports complex. Since the area is privately owned it would be difficult for the local government unit to undertake a re-blocking project. – FPL (FREEMAN)