AT LEAST 13 families were displaced from their homes after a noon fire hit at M.L. Quezon St, Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City on Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Around 64 individuals who were affected by the fire are currently housed at Maguikay National High School, says Dr. Maricel Yu, head of the Mandaue City Social Welfare and Services (MCSWS).

Of the 13 families, nine were living in the building owned by Helejin Hardware where the fire first started, Yu said.

After the fire victims were evacuated, personnel of the MCSWS provided packed meals and disaster kits composed of assorted hygiene kits, clothing and goods.

Fire Officer 1 Denzel Espares of the Mandaue City Fire Station said the damage caused by the fire was pegged at P500,000.

Espares said the fire started at around 11:30 a.m.

Espares said they received the fire alarm from Mandaue City Command Center at 11:31 a.m.

They immediately responded to the fire scene and raised the fire level to second alarm at 11:38 a.m.

At 11:53 a.m. the fire was declared under control.

While the hardware store was destroyed by the fire, two houses were damaged.

Espares said their investigators had yet to discover the cause of the fire as of press time. (KFD)