FIFTY houses were razed in a fire that struck Sitio Langub, Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City on Saturday night, Nov. 5, 2022.
The alarm was received at 10:34 p.m.
Residents were forced to evacuate their homes with just the clothes on their backs as the flames raged out of control.
Reynaldo Suan said he got his wife, their two children and his mother out of the house as soon as he saw the fire getting close. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t able to save one single possession.
The important thing was he was able to save his family, he said.
Members of the Cebu City Fire Office and fire brigades from different barangays responded to the alarm.
When they arrived in the area, they had a hard time getting to the scene of the fire because it was located in the interior portion of the sitio.
The fire trucks were forced to park by the side of the road. Firefighters had to connect the hoses so these could reach the burning houses.
The fire was raised to first alarm at 10:39 p.m. and declared under control at 11:33 p.m. Fire out was declared at 11:39 p.m.
SFO1 Riza Julve, fire investigator, said the fire started in the house of Euphinia Jacinto Escototo, who suffered first degree burns.
The fire destroyed an estimated P1.9 million worth of properties.
However, they have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, Julve said.
All those affected by the fire are temporarily sheltered at the Oprra Elementary School where three classrooms had been set aside for them.
Kalunasan Barangay Captain Nunilon Monares said he will declare a state of calamity and use the budget to help the survivors.
The City Social Welfare and Services provided meals to the survivors.
Talamban fire
At 2:47 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, firefighters responded to an alarm along Nasipit Road in Barangay Talamban.
When they arrived, six houses were already engulfed in flames. Three ended up getting destroyed.
The fire was raised to first alarm at 2:55 a.m. and was declared under control 15 minutes later. Fire out was declared at 3:17 a.m.
The fire reportedly started in the house of Francisca Dionson.
Based on their initial estimate, the damage may have been around P840,000, according to Julve.
Julve said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire. (BBT / PJB)