A MORNING fire totally burned 10 houses in Sitio Pilit, Barangay Cabancalan around the boundary of Talamban, Cebu at 6:11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2021.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Antonio Montajes, fire investigator of the Mandaue City Fire Station, told Sunstar Cebu that the fire incident was reported to the Cebu City Command Center and was immediately forwarded to their station after confirming it was within Mandaue City.
The Cebu City Fire Station also responded to the alarm, as well as the Mandaue City Fire Station.
Montajes said seven minutes after they reached the area, the commander-in-chief raised the fire to second alarm.
Around 6:40 a.m., the fire was under control and after eight minutes of overhauling, was declared fire out.
Montajes said the fire started at the house of Ryan Desamparado, a resident of the area.
Residents claimed that the fire started after their mini-fan reportedly sparked while they were asleep, said Montajes.
The house of Desamparado was made of light materials, making it easier for the fire to scatter.
Montajes said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire, as the investigation is still ongoing.
He said they will still invite Desamparado together with his wife to their station for questioning.
The cost of damage was around P300,000, Montajes said.
Montajes said residents were taken care of by the Barangay Talamban officials.
He said geographically speaking, the area is under the jurisdiction of Mandaue City, however, residents were registered under Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.
In a text message received by Sunstar Cebu from Dr. Maricel Yu, Mandaue City Social Welfare and Services head, she said the fire incident was part of Barangay Talamban's jurisdiction and not of Barangay Cabancalan. (KFD)