CEBU, Philippines – Two houses were totally burned when a fire hit in Barangay Cubacub, Mandaue City at around 11:45 a.m. last Sunday.
Luckily, the two children who were left in one of the houses where the fire originated were rescued by a neighbor.
The two other children in the adjacent house affected by fire were also able to run for their safety after they saw huge smokes coming out from their neighbor's house.
The houses that were totally burned were owned by Genevie Pocong and Arcia Deladia.
It was learned that during the time of incident, Pocong went to the market leaving her nine-year-old child and five-year-old grandson in their house while Deladia was at the church during the time of incident.
Genevie said she hurriedly went back to their house after receiving a text message from their neighbor that their house was on fire.
Upon reaching her house, the fire was still on. She could no longer save their belongings.
Her neighbor Jomar Damaya, 39, took Genevieve's children for safety.
The fire was immediately put out by firemen minutes after they received the alarm.
"Maayo gani dunay daghang punoan sa maong lugar busa wa ra kaayo makatapon sa ubang mga panimay," said Fire Officer 3 Nilo Cosido.1
The fire reached third alarm prompting other fire trucks from Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Consolacion to respond. No casualty wwas reported but one Jorim Damaya was injured after accidentally stepping on a pointed object.
Senior Fire Officer 3 Roy Garcia of the Mandaue Fire Station said they are still conducting further investigation as to the cause of the fire but neighbors said they heard something that exploded at the second floor of Pocong's house before smokes started to emerge.