Fire hits tailor, tire shop

FIRE ate up a business establishment yesterday afternoon, taking away some P500,000 worth of properties.

The Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) 7 received the alarm from Sitio Lower Lomar, MJ Cuenco St., Barangay T. Padilla at 5:54 p.m. and was under control at 6:18 p.m.

The fire burned Unisports Tailoring, on the second floor, and a surplus tire shop, on the ground floor of a building owned by Endre Reyes.

City Fire Marshall William Tacaldo said the cause of the fire, which reportedly started in the tailoring shop, is still under investigation.

View Fire hits area in MJ Cuenco Ave. in a larger map

Mildred Paraya, one of the tailor shop workers, said they were at work when they noticed a smoke coming from out the kitchen.

Paraya said that when they checked, they saw the fire uncontrollable, prompting them to go downstairs and warn the tire shop.

She said the tire shop was already close so they just ran and saved themselves.

A certain Jayden Bustamante was aided by the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) as she reportedly had difficulty breathing.

Tacaldo said they have no problem reaching the area as it was along the highway, but because of the burning tire on the building’s ground floor, it created a thick black smoke, making it difficult to breathe.

He said they used some breathing apparatus to penetrate the area.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama went to the area and said firefighting equipment should be upgraded.

There were no fatalities during the incident.