Inferno under the bridge: Fire leaves hundreds homeless

CEBU, Philippines — A two-hour fire struck Sitio Under The Bridge (UTB) in Brgy. Looc, Mandaue City yesterday noon, destroying 333 homes and displacing 444 families.

SFO2 Leo Andicoy, Mandaue City Fire Station lead investigator, told The Freeman that the cause of the fire is still under investigation but they are considering all angles.

“Dili pa ko makasulti unsa gyud ang sinugdanan sa sunog kay mag-conduct pa ko og further investigation with the witnesses,” he said.

One angle they are pursuing is that a mentally-challenged child was left playing with matches, setting their house ablaze.  Another is that someone was cooking and then something exploded.

“Kani mga istorya-istorya ra mao ni akong i-verify pa,” Andicoy said, especially since the owner of the house where the fire started was not home when it happened.

Initial investigation revealed that the fire began in the house owned by a certain Elisita Dinawanao.

No injuries or fatalities were reported during the fire, which started shortly after noon and left 1,537 individuals homeless.

Fanned by strong winds, the fire immediately spread, prompting firefighters to raise a third alarm at 12:22 p.m. before putting it under control at 12:44 p.m.

A fire out was declared at 2:16 p.m. or only after over two hours

Andicoy said the situation was made more difficult by the lone narrow road that leads into the community from the highway and the houses being made of light materials.

He thanked other responding fire stations and fire volunteers as well as a tug boat that helped in putting out the fire.

The Coast Guard Station Central Cebu, in a Facebook post, stated that in conducted firefighting and rescue operations in response to the said residential fire.

The post stated that CGS Central Cebu personnel headed by CG Captain Jerome Lozada together with CGSS Mandaue personnel led by CG CPO Alex V. Capangpangan immediately responded to the said incident onboard MTUG Homam.

“The team successfully conducted firefighting and rescue operations at the said area and provided necessary assistance,” it said.

On the other hand, the Lapu-Lapu City Government, through the Lapu-Lapu City Rescue, together with the Lapu-Lapu City Fire District and Barangay Maribago Fire Station, swiftly responded to the fire incident, deploying a total of four fire trucks.

In a coordinated effort, fire trucks from Lapu-Lapu City were strategically positioned above the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge to contain the fire and prevent its spread to neighboring areas.

Immediately, the City Traffic Management System temporarily closed the bridge, redirecting traffic to the second Marcelo Fernan Bridge to facilitate unimpeded access for firefighting operations.

Following the fire, the affected residents are temporarily sheltered in the nearby Looc barangay gymnasium, where the City Government provided them with disaster kits.

Looc Brgy. Captain Raul Kevin Cabahug appealed for donations for his constituents, especially cash, food, medicines, clothing and toiletries.

“Abli ang atong opisina sa Brgy Hall 24 hours karon sa pag tabang sa mga nasunogan ug pag dawat sa kung kinsa mo pa abot sa sa inyong mga hinabang,” he said, in a Facebook post.

Andicoy said that of the four fire incidents in Mandaue City, yesterday’s fire was the biggest they responded to since the start of Fire Prevention Month last March 1.

“So far sa pagkakaron, as lead investigator, mao pa gyud pinakadako nako…naabot pa gyud og third alarm…. Karon maoy dako-dako gyud,” he said.

He reminded the public to be extra watchful and to be responsible enough to avoid fire.

“Ang Bureau of Fire Protection, with regards to fire prevention, gibuhat na namo ang tanan pagsibya, pagrekorida sa tanang mga fire safety ug awareness, seminars and drills aron malikay kita sa sunog,” he said.

“So ang amo na lang is pagpahimangno na lang ninyo be responsible arong mahalikay kita sa sunog ug walay pagmahay,” he added. — (FREEMAN)