Another fire hit CdeO; 10 houses razed

AT LEAST 10 houses made of light materials were burned down when a 20-minute fire hit a crowded residential area in Barangay 17, Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Pedro Felicilda, station commander 1 of the Bureau of Fire Protection, said there were no reports of injuries or casualties.

The fire, which started at the house of a certain Marimar Embalsado, spread quickly to neighboring houses.

FIREFIGHTERS try to put out the fire that hit a heavily crowded residential area in Barangay 17, Cagayan de Oro City Wednesday afternoon. (Joey P. Nacalaban)

Firefighters had a hard time extinguishing the fire reportedly due to a narrow street.

The fire, which reached third alarm, was placed under control at 3:20 p.m.

Shirley Pabayo, one of the victims, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that they failed to save anything since the fire spread quickly.

“We were on panic. We were victims of Sendong ug ang hinabang nga among nadawat nahurot pa gyud og kasunog,” Pabayo said.

Aside from Pabayo and Embalsado, among those affected by the fire, based on the initial list, include Angela Guerzon, Benjie Carreon, Crisanto Pabayo, Juvy Cueblas, Jessica Zambas and Arturo Almonia.

Felicilda said they are still verifying the cause of the fire.

Damage from the fire was initially placed at P250, 000.

On Tuesday dawn, a fire also hit a residential area in Barangay 36, damaging at least eight houses and displaced 76 individuals. (Annabelle L. Ricalde)