Fire gobbles up P1.2 million in property

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 7 said P1.2 million worth of properties were damaged in the fire that hit Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City last Saturday evening.

The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) listed 22 families or 79 individuals left homeless by the fire on Cardinal Rosales Ave., Ayala Access Road, Barangay Kamputhaw.

BFP 7 investigator Lowel Opolentisima said in a phone interview 10 houses were destroyed while four persons were injured.

The injured were identified as Rey Zamora, 43, Francisco Bracamonte, 65, Betina Arnan, 77 and Ramon Rocca, 25.

Opolentisima said Arnan suffered a mild heart attack while the other three sustained bruises and minor burns while trying to put out the fire.

The fire reportedly started in the second floor of the house owned by Simplecio and Crisencia Niñeza.

The fire department received the alarm at 7:32 p.m. and placed it under control in 24 minutes.

The fire was raised to a general alarm, which meant all fire brigades in the city were required to respond.

Interior

Because the fire occurred in an interior part of the barangay, the firefighters had a hard time reaching the area.

“Dako og damage kay though light materials ang balay, they were ancestral houses,” the fire investigator said.

Opolentisima said they are still investigating the cause of the fire.

“We will still have to interview more witnesses that might help us determine how the fire started,” he said.

Barangay Kamputhaw Captain Lorenzo Basamot Sr. said they declared a state of calamity in the area so the barangay can release its calamity fund to help the victims.

The victims are temporarily houses in a chapel in Sitio Macroville, a few meters from the fire scene.

Basamot said they will provide meals of the victims for three days.