Wednesday, May 30, 2007 461 families lose homes in Ozamiz fire By Ryan Rosauro Ozamiz Correspondent
OZAMIZ -- Some 461 families were left homeless by a four-hour fire that hit the coastal villages of Tinago and San Roque on May 28.
According to Ludie Raras, city social welfare and development officer, the number of victims was gathered through a disaster census they conducted on May 29.
The fire started around 2 p.m. and was kept under control some three hours later. It was completely over by around 6 p.m.
Many of the houses burned were made of light materials. San Roque and Tinago are among the most populous villages of the city.
The homeless families are temporarily sheltered at the city gym.
Inspector Rommel Villafuerte, city fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection, said they are still conducting investigation on the circumstances surrounding the fire incident.
As of the evening of May 28, Villafuerte estimated the damage to cost around P4 million with 70 houses burned.
The fire started in Tinago. Witnesses said the fire first occurred in a rented house.
Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog has called for aid to the fire victims.
