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Saturday, October 11, 2008
Fire razes 90 houses, 2 school buildings
DAVAO CITY -- A fire razed Friday about 90 houses and two school buildings in the coastal village of Leon Garcia, Agdao district, damaging an estimated P5 million worth of properties.
Fire officer Wilberto Rico Neil Kwantiu, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief, said they received a call at 2:56 p.m. and immediately dispatched fire trucks to the area.
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"Since densely populated at maliit yung streets, nahirapan tayo mag-penetrate kaagad. Wala ding madadaanan sa may coastline (The densely populated area and the narrow streets prevented us from penetrating quickly to the area)," Kwantiu said.
Kwantiu added that a change in wind direction contributed to the fast spread of the fire.
"Umikot yung hangin. Nahirapan mag maneuver sa kabila ang ating mga bombero. Muntik na nga ang isang fire truck natin. (Our fire volunteers found it difficult to reach houses on fire because of the wind direction) Pero with help from the residents na nagdala ng tubig and the Air Force na nagpaulan, we had the fire completely out by 5 p.m.," he said.
"Under control na siya by 4:30 p.m. When we arrived, we made sure na hindi na madadamay yung ibang di pa nasusunog," he added.
As of this writing Friday, the BFP has yet to investigate the origin of the fire. However, interviewed residents said the fire started in one house near the sea.
"Namaligya man ug maruya, unya bagaso ang gamit. Nabiyaan siguro maong nasunog ([Someone] near the sea was cooking and selling maruya. The fire was probably left open)," one said.
Kwantiu, meanwhile, said there were no reported casualties though a number were injured during the panicked evacuation.
The affected families will temporarily stay in the Leon Garcia National High School Gym.
The local government will reportedly build tents for the affected families, while the City Social Services and Development Office has already sent personnel to deliver food and water. (GLP/Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (October 11, 2008 issue)
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