FORTY-NINE houses and nine classrooms were razed while two other abodes were damaged by fire that hit a slum area in Pagadian City, officials said Saturday.
Senior Inspector Edgar Quitoy, Pagadian City fire marshal, said the fire broke out at 5:56 p.m. Thursday, May 17, in Dumagoc village.
Quitoy said that the fire, which lasted for more than an hour, has displaced 60 families.
The fire victims were temporarily housed at the covered court of Dumagoc village.
Quitoy said investigation showed the fire started at the kitchen of Pacita Navies that engulfed the entire house and rapidly spread to nearby houses mostly made of semi-concrete and light materials.
He said the property damages was placed at P1.2 million excluding the cost of the nine classrooms.
Meanwhile, Haron Damada Jr., Pagadian City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office action officer, said the City Government on Friday provided relief assistance to the fire victims.
Damada said the fire victims have received food packs and non-food items such as kitchen utensils, used clothes, mat, and blankets. (SunStar Philippines)