APPROXIMATELY 100 families were affected and temporarily displaced in a fire incident which broke out Sunday night in a residential area in the village of Upper Calarian, Zamboanga city.
Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar immediately set up the emergency response team and mobilized local government resources to meet the needs of the affected families who evacuated to the Upper Calarian village covered court.
The City Government, through the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), initially provided food items, plastic sheeting and mats, and portalets.
Financial assistance will also be provided after the completion of an ongoing joint validation being conducted by the Housing and Land Management Division (HLMD), the City Engineer’s Office, and City Assessor’s Office.
Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFC) Chief Clint Cha said the fire broke out around 9:50 p.m. Sunday in one of the houses and rapidly spread to nearby houses in the closely-built community.
Cha said the initial estimated worth of properties damaged in the fire, that reached third alarm, was placed at P900,000. The fire was contained around 11:30 p.m.
FO1 Richard Dean Billones, the fire investigator, said they have yet to determine the origin of the fire.
Nonoy Ismael, one of the affected residents, suspected their houses were intentionally burned, citing they saw three unidentified people carrying plastic containers before the fire broke out.
Ismael said they suspect the content of the plastic containers were flammable substance.
“As of this moment, we cannot say whether it was intentional or accidental,” Billones said.
Billones said investigation continue to determine the origin of the fire.