A TWO-YEAR-OLD boy was killed, two were injured while 11 structures were destroyed in twin fires that occurred in Mandaue City and Balamban town on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020.
In Balamban town, a fire that occurred in Sitio Upper Segra, Barangay Buanoy at 10:25 a.m. claimed the life of a two-year-old boy and destroyed four houses.
Police Major Christian Torres of the Balamban Police Station identified the victim as Alvin Gabaton.
Torres said just before the incident, Gabaton’s mother, Nancy, left their house to sell food near a public school and decided to leave the victim and his two siblings, ages 15 and 4, at home by themselves.
Gabaton’s 15-year-old brother is a child with special needs, Torres disclosed.
Gabaton’s mother raised him and his siblings on her own after her husband died last year.
While Gabaton and his older brother were sleeping, his four-year-old sibling reportedly played with matches inside their home and used them to light up some of their clothes in their room, causing the fire.
When the fire began, Gabaton’s 15-year-old brother was able to bring their four-year-old sibling out of their home.
However, the 15-year-old boy failed to save Gabaton, who was sleeping on a makeshift hammock in their room.
Gabaton’s four-year-old brother was brought to a nearby hospital after sustaining burns during the fire.
Fire officials pegged the damage from the blaze at P150,000.
Six hours earlier, seven stalls in a satellite market in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City were destroyed in a dawn fire.
During the fire, Sabiano Bañagoso, 55, and a resident in the area, was hospitalized after sustaining injuries while trying to help firefighters douse the blaze.
Fire Insp. Kyle Lauzon, Mandaue City Fire Station deputy marshal, said they received the fire alarm at around 4:34 a.m.
The fire was raised to second alarm by 4:45 a.m. and was under control by 5:27 a.m.
Most of the destroyed stalls had been used for selling rice, cooked food, and shoes.
Lauzon said the fire reportedly started at the stall of Socorro Apare, but they can’t determine what caused the fire.
The fire damage was pegged at P80,000. (AYB, KFD / JKV)