VICTIMS of the fire that broke out in Purok 5, Barangay Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City, last Sunday, October 14, were occupying a prohibited area as it falls under a salvage zone, which prohibits any structure that may destroy or obstruct the shorelines.

Gusa village chair Marlo Tabac disclosed that the 37 houses gutted down by the fire were located in a salvage zone however the barangay and the city has already prepared an on-site relocation located just beside the area where the fire happened.

The City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Office reported that there were 66 families, 37 houses, and a total of 213 individuals who were affected by the fire, while the structural damage is pegged at P1.8 million.

"Ang area sa nasunugan, area kana sa gobyerno kay salvage zone kana ug accretion area, meaning abay sa creek, ang salvage zone duol sa dagat (The area where the fire happened is owned by the government because it is considered salvage zone and an accretion area, which means that these areas are located near the creak and the sea)," Tabac said in an interview.

Tabac said most of the fire victims already own a space in the relocation site, however, pointed out that there are still 12 families who do not own a space.

"Karon kay naa may sunog so mahangyo ko ang mga biktima nga sa relocation na magtukod sa new houses (Now after the fire incident, we are appealing to the victims to build their new houses in the relocation site)," he said.

Yabac also appealed to the residents to stop blaming each other and focus on moving on.

The barangay has already established a community kitchen for the fire victims where free meals will be provided within 5 days.

Balay Mindanaw, Seventh-Day Adventist, San Isidro Labrador Parish, the Balaba family, and the City Government has already extended their support to the fire victims.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is still investigating what started the fire, but initial reports say a faulty wiring may have caused it.