A FIRE in Barangay Sawang Calero, Cebu City last Thursday razed 115 houses and displaced 319 families, or about 1,300 residents.
The fire in Sitio Nipaan was the first to hit the city this month.
Cebu Provincial Fire Marshall Cesar Patrocinio Jr. said they received the alarm at 11:26 p.m.
“We had difficulty extinguishing the flames because of the wind,” Patrocinio said.
The alarm was raised to Task Force Alpha at 11:54 p.m.
Fire investigators traced the origin of the fire to the house of Marlo Fernandez, which was occupied by his nephew Gestoni.
“The house allegedly didn’t have any electricity. As of now, we are still placing this under investigation as to what really caused the fire,” Patrocinio said.
The fire was placed under control at 12:50 a.m. and was declared out at 5:35 a.m., yesterday.
Damage to properties was pegged at P2 million.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) Chief, Nagiel Bañacia, in a Facebook post, said that at least 42 special children from the Missionary of the Poor Little Lamb Center were evacuated to the Cebu City Sports Institute Gym.
One of the minors was rushed to the Cebu City Medical Center for treatment after for a cut on his right ankle, Bañacia said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) recorded 678 families and a total of 1,152 persons affected by the fire.
Patrocinio said that community helped in rescuing the children.
The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CCDRRMO) also helped rescue 42 children. CCDRRMO chief Nagiel Bañacia said all of them are safe.
“Nagbayanihan na tayo kasi kami nag-firefight while yung nga kapitbahay tulong-tulong sa pag rescue sa mga bata (The neighbors rescued the children). Hindi sila ordinary na mga bata as they needed guidance and supervision from the adults,” Patrocinio said.
The Department of Social Welfare (DSWS) distributed pack meals to the residents yesterday.
DSWS Chief Lea Japson said they will shoulder the food of the affected families for three days.
“Most probably by tomorrow (today) we can give the family kits which will include kitchenware and relief goods like rice, canned goods and noodles, after our validation,” Japson said.
Jason said they will give the families tents.
The structure of the Missionaries of the Poor was spared from the fire, but Japson said they had to provide temporary power and water supply to the building.
Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor chief Genevieve Alcoseba said they will have the area re-blocked. (JOB, RVC)