MORE than 1,000 families were affected in the fire that hit around 500 houses in Barangay Tipolo, Mandaue City, Thursday dawn, June 27, 2019.
The fire reportedly started at Sitio Basubas and spread to Sitio Maharlika and Espina compound.
A stock room of a brewery company was also partially hit by the fire while five classrooms, a wellness room, tool room and library of Tipolo National High School was also burned.
Fire authorities said around P1.3 million worth of properties were damaged due to the incident.
The Bureau of Fire Protection received the fire alarm at 1:18 Thursday dawn.
Firefighters declared the fire under control at 3:30 a.m., and it was declared fire out at 9:12 in the morning.
Mandaue City Fire Station investigator Edgar Vergara said the fire started at the rented room of couple Mariano and Alma Conchas.
Vergara said the owners of the house told investigators the Conchas were renting one of the rooms at the second floor of the house made of mixed concrete and light materials.
Vergara, who did not name the owners, said they only saw that the room was already on fire but the Conchas were out to work.
Investigators are looking into unattended charging equipment as one of the causes of the incident.
Acting Mandaue City Mayor Carlo Fortuna and a representative of mayor-elect Jonas Cortes immediately responded to the scene where they agreed that a special session be called to declare a state of calamity in the area.
The City Council approved in a unanimous decision Thursday afternoon, the declaration which will allow them access to the calamity fund.
Lawyer John Eddu Ybañez, Cortes’ executive secretary, said they will investigate whether the area is a private or government property should a reblocking be done in the affected site.
This as firefighters said they had difficulty putting out the fire because of the narrow alleys and streets of the area.
Firemen had to connect hoses for them to enter the fire site.
Tipolo Barangay Captain Romana Cuizon said this is already the third time that sitio Basubas was hit by a fire. This is the first time that the blaze affected neighboring sitios.
Cuizon said the first two conflagrations were still in the 1990s.
Evacuation center
The other parking area inside the Cebu International Convention Center compound will serve as evacuation center for the affected families.
Recently victims of the fire in barangays Mantuyong and Guizo in 2016 who have camped out at the CICC were also moved out.
Almost 200 families are also scheduled to be relocated to Barangay Casili next month.
Fortuna and Ybañez both agreed that Barangay Casili is the most viable alternative because it is near the city and could accommodate thousands of individuals.
A chapel was also made as another evacuation center.
The City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) have already provided food to the victims which will be good for three days.
On Saturday, June 29, Fortuna said tents, cooking utensils and some sleeping clothes will possibly be distributed.
Fire victims are thus asking help from kind citizens for food, water, clothing, cooking utensils, sleeping mats and similar sleeping stuff and housing materials to enable them to slowly start temporary shelter.
For those who are interested to extend assistance, they can coordinate with the CSWS Mandaue City, the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the local government of Barangay Tipolo.
They can also contact Tipolo Barangay Captain Cuizon through cellphone number 09335538554 if they wish to extend help. (NET/VLA)