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Saturday, November 08, 2003
P1.5M lost in Tinago blaze
CEBU -- Faulty wiring was blamed for the fire that burned about 50 houses while it raged for one hour and five minutes in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City.
Low pressure in two hydrants and lack of access roads allowed the blaze to grow bigger, devouring more houses on McArthur Blvd.
Fire Investigator Allan Arciaga placed the property damage at P1.5 million.
It was the second major fire to hit Cebu City this month. Last Saturday, 298 families in Barangay Mabolo lost their homes in a dawn fire.
Refill trucks
Cebu City Fire Marshal Ismael Codilla said it took them several minutes to refill their fire trucks from the two hydrants. When they returned, more houses were already razed.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) initially listed 51 burned houses. City Social Welfare Officer III Nida Sistoma said between 80 and 100 families were left homeless.
Witnesses said the blaze began in the ceiling of the two-story house of Gangga Bartiquin, right in the middle of the neighborhood.
The house was locked since morning, forcing residents to destroy the windows to try to put out the blaze with pails of water.
Short circuit
"Had we opened the door quickly, we would've put out the fire," a resident said.
He said they thought an electrical short circuit caused the fire because the blaze started in the plywood ceiling of Bartiquin's house.
The BFP tapped the blaze at 2:40 p.m. and had it controlled at 3:45 p.m. It raised the blaze to general alarm, calling neighboring cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to send fire trucks.
Two persons who tried to save their belongings were reported injured. The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation took care of them.
Barangay Captain Joel Garganera said the Federal Hardware warehouse near the barangay hall would serve as the victims' temporary shelter. He said the blaze spread in Sitios Sagrada, Putat and Bagumbayan.
The Cebu City Government will give eight pieces of GI sheets and plywood, kitchenware and other needs to each house owner.
Sistoma said that since Friday night, fire victims were given packed meals until they could settle in and the giving of building materials are completed.
Cash aid
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north) committed to give P1,000 cash aid to each family next week.
City Council police and fire committee chairman Procopio Fernandez said he would wait for the BFP recommendation determining if it is necessary to give the barangay dry hydrants -- a water pipe from which firemen can connect their hoses to allow them to enter the interior areas in case of another fire.
(November 8, 2003 issue)
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