Fire destroys 60 houses in Talisay

CEBU, Philippines — Around 60 houses were destroyed by a fire that hit Sitio Atisan, Barangay Cansojong, Talisay City, before noon yesterday.

The fire, which hit an interior portion of a residential area, was raised to the fourth alarm and damage was pegged at ?1.5 million.

The fire reportedly started at 11:14 a.m. was raised to first alarm by 11:17 a.m., then second alarm at 11:22 a.m. It was declared under control at 12:10 p.m. while complete fire out came 10 minutes later.

Fire Officer 2 Mar Dee Auxtero said the fire started at the house owned by Wilson Labuca. He added that the narrow street going to the fire scene made it difficult for them to respond to the incident and penetrate the area.

He reminded the people to be cautious so that they won’t become victims of fire, especially now that it’s Fire Prevention Month.

“Sa ating lahat, dapat mag-ingat po tayo. Lalo na ngayon na grabe ‘yung init ng panahon. Wag nating hayaang may nakasaksak sa ating bahay, wag natin iwan basta-basta. ‘Yung pagluluto, di tayo basta basta mag-iiwan sa ating bahay. Dapat maging alerto tayo bawat oras, bawat minuto,” Auxtero said.

Further, he said that there were no reported injuries or fatalities during the incident, and an investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of yesterday’s fire which was the fourth fire to happen in the city and so far the biggest to hit the city in March.

Those left homeless by the fire are currently sheltered at the Cansojong gymnasium and food and relief packs were provided to them. Cansojong Sangguniang Kabataan officials have called for donations and asked for items such as food, clothing, blankets, cash, and medicines for the fire victims.

In Phase 1, Villa Leyson Bacayan, Cebu City, a house was also totally burned by a fire yesterday afternoon. Damage was pegged at ?960,000.

The fire was reported at 5:32 p.m. and declared fire-out at 6:02 p.m.

Investigation revealed that the fire started at the house owned by Paz Blanco who also sustained first-degree burns. There were also no fatalities recorded. An investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.

Meanwhile, Looc Mandaue City Barangay Captain Raul Kevin Cabahug said that the 517 families affected by the fire last March 12 will have to stay one more week at the evacuation centers in the Looc barangay gym and at the Cesar Cabahug Elementary School as the temporary shelter in Sitio Riverside is still being prepared.

Cabahug said that a few of the residents already went back to the fire scene but on a temporary basis only.

“Temporary lang sa g’yud sila nganha but once mahan-ay na to ilang kabalhinan, ibalhin g’yud didto ang tanan. Mao nay istorya sa mayor nga mga one week pa sila diri sa evacuation centers samtang gi-prepare pa ang ilang kabalhinan,” said Cabahug, a former Mandaue City councilor.

This as more assistance is being readied for the fire victims including the ?5,000 cash assistance to each of the 517 families or a total of ?2.575 million from the Office of Senator Imee Marcos and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Earlier, Senators Bong Go, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, and Undersecretary Terence Calatrava of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, and Ako Bisaya Partylist Representative Sonny Lagon, and the Office of the Vice President also gave various goods to the fire victims.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan also gave his month’s salary and another ?1 million from the city government while his wife Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Cindi King Chan also gave ?100,000.

Mandaue City Lone District Rep. Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano Dizon already gave various goods to the fire victims last Thursday and is expected to give ?10,000 each for the house owners and ?5,000 each for sharers and renters.

“I am so thankful g’yud sa tanan nga nitabang ug nagkahiusa aron mahaw-as sa kalisud ang atong mga nabiktima sa sunog,” Cabahug said. — (FREEMAN)