Sawang Calero fire leaves 29 families homeless
CEBU, Philippines — At least 29 families lost their homes in a fire that occurred in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City at past noon yesterday.
Peny Navales was among those displaced by the fire.
She said they failed to salvage their things as fire quickly engulfed their house and neighboring houses.
“Wala’y nabitbit tungod kalit ni ulbo ang kayo,” she said.
The blaze, which broke out at 12:12 p.m., destroyed a row of houses on C. Padilla Street, Sitio Block 1.
The fire reached second alarm before it was declared under control at 1:05 p.m. and was declared fire out at 1:56 p.m.
It reportedly originated in a house owned by Randy Abello and quickly spread to adjacent structure made of light materials, according to Fire Officer 2 Fulbert Navarro, the fire investigator.
“Twelve houses were affected—10 were totally damaged and two were partially damaged,” he said.
The fire bureau pegged the damage to properties at P225,000.
No one was reported injured or killed in the incident.
Navarro said investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
But Navales claimed that the fire started in the kitchen of Abello and was caused by unattended cooking.
The kitchen was reportedly made mostly of light materials so the fire immediately spread to neighboring structures.
Navales disclosed that it was not the first time it happened.
“Dili mominos sa lima n aka higayon hapit masunog ang balay sa mga Abello. Kanunay nako gipahimangnuan ang kapikas ni Abello nga dili magluto sa ibabaw,” she said.
Throwing lighted cigarette butts, unattended cooking, children playing with matches or lighters, electrical misuse, gas leaks, bonfires and arson are the common causes of fire.
Tuesday’s fire incident in the said area was the second in over 20 years. The first incident was on January 18, 1998. — KQD (FREEMAN)
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