At least 272 families homeless in Brgy Pasil: Raging inferno

CEBU, Philippines — At least 300 houses were razed by fire in three sitios of Barangay Pasil, Cebu City past noon yesterday leaving several families homeless and an estimated P3 million in property damage.

It took more than two hours for the firefighters to control the conflagration, which started at the house owned by Ely Petalcorin in Sitio Lawis. Fire investigator Alberto Jagdon said the house was occupied by Joshua and Alicia Petalcorin.

Initial investigation revealed that there were two children playing matchsticks before the fire broke out at 12:26 pm.

"Atong nakuha nga source ani kaning bata nga nagdula-dula og posporo sa lugar ni Joshua," Jagdon said.

Fire investigators are also looking into reports that the fire started from a suspected drug den near Petalcorin’s house.

The Bureau of Fire Protection declared a general alarm at 2:22 p.m. to ensure enough firefighters considering that the area was densely populated. It was declared under control at 2:54 p.m.

Jagdon said the blowers from an electric company, which serves as their asset protection in case of fire, aggravated the situation by fanning it causing the fire to immediately spread to Sitios Riverside and Maharlika.

Fire responders also had difficulty penetrating the area because of the narrow access roads and the crowd control problem.  Fire Supt. Ronaldo Orbeta, BFP-7 assistant regional director for operations, they also had water supply problem because the fire hydrants did not have enough water pressure.

"Kung dunay ingon ani ba nga panghitabo, duna untay orderly evacuation, ang amo na experience ron naglisod ta tungod sa kadaghanon sa tawo," Orbeta lamented.

Jagdon also said they needed police help to control the crowd but there were not enough policemen in the area.

"Nangita mi og PNP assistance gamay ra among nakit-an, nagkagubot ang mga tao ilabi na sa Sitio Lawis,” Jagdon said. He added that the crowd has affected their firefighting operation.

Chief Inspector Keith Allen Andaya, chief of the San Nicolas Police Station, said he had requested for backup from the Sinulog security contingent to help them in the crowd control.

"Mao to nga nagtawag nalang ta og backup mga police sa Sinulog, naa tay para Sinulog stand by gipadad-an gyud ta," Andaya said.

As of press time, fire fighters were still trying to completely put out the fire. At least two fire volunteers were reportedly injured during the operation. As of 7:45 p.m., the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office has recorded at least 272 families and 1,340 individuals as fire victims.

CCDRRMO head Nagiel Bañacia said that the victims are temporarily sheltered at the Pasil Elementary School.

Department of Social Welfare and Services head Lea Japson said food packs for dinner were distributed last night to the affected residents.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said each of the affected families will receive P20, 000 cash assistance from the city government.

Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor operation head Genevieve Alcoseba also told The FREEMAN that her committee development workers will be at the site to check whether not a re-blocking shall be done.

Devotion to Sto. Niño

The calamity has also strengthened the devotions of some affected residents to the Holy Child. Some residents were seen fleeing from the fire scene carrying nothing but the image of Señor Sto. Niño.

“Bisan unsa pa man mao gyud na among unahon," Tessie Dagohoy, 51, said.

Dagohoy secured her Sto. Niño and her 81-year-old mother-in-law at the Pasil Sports Complex before anything else.

Ingracia Gabison, 70, was clutching her bible when her neighbors convinced her to leave her house. For Carla Aregala, 40, made sure her important documents and her family are safe.

"Naninigurado na lang mi nga bahalag wala mi appliances basta safe. Among giuna kay mga documents ug ang mga bata," Aregala said. — Odessa O. Leyson (FREEMAN)