THE Cebu City Fire Station traced the cause of the fire that burned more than 200 houses in two sitios in Barangay Calamba last Wednesday to an open flame.
Authorities tracked down the owner of the room, who was later arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
SFO2 Pier Abellana, fire investigator, said that they traced the origin of the fire to the rented room of Michael Gingoyon.
The fire left 286 families or 1,158 individuals homeless.
Gingoyon was detained in the San Nicolas Police Station after authorities found drug sniffing paraphernalia in his possession during a body frisk.
“He alleged that he was not in his room when the fire broke out and was eating morning snacks. But we’re sure that an unattended candle may have been the source,” Abellana said.
The fire investigator said they’re considering many possibilities, including reports that the house was a drug den, but they have yet to confirm this.
SFO4 Jimmy Layao, chief of operations of the Cebu City Fire Station, said that sitios Almacin and Alcica in Calamba need to have wider roads.
“It was really difficult for us to go in the interior portion. We interconnected hoses just to hit the fire directly, which caused some delay,” Layao said.
Despite the loss of material things, the displaced families said they are still thankful that they survived the fire.
“Our throats are still sore from crying the whole night. We know that we can never get our things back. I still wish that what happened was just a dream,” said Connie Santos, 29, a mother of two.
City Hall has deployed a medical team to the temporary relocation site in Calamba to take care of the injured persons.
The Department of Social Welfare Services also deployed personnel to assess the needs of the families. (JOB and Cherizar Maxine Magat, USJ-R Intern)