Fire razes 50 houses, leaves 300 homeless

CEBU, Philippines — Close to 300 individuals were left homeless in a fire that hit Sitio San Vicente, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, two days shy of the month-long observance of the Fire Prevention Month.

The fire broke out before 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. The firefighting lasted for an hour before it was totally extinguished.

The fire affected residential houses, which allegedly started at the house of one Edwin Escandallo, according to initial reports of the fire department.

This was reportedly not the first time that a fire incident occurred in the same house, although it was put out right away.

Some witnesses said, this time, an unattended candle reportedly caused the fire, although this is still being verified.

Cebu City Fire Department Spokesperson, FO2 Wendell Villanueva, said the investigation will include inviting those individuals who claimed that it started with an unattended candle in Escandallo's house.

The fire destroyed at least 50 houses, with an estimated damage to properties at P1.2 million.

No one was reported severely hurt or died during the incident, but it left 280 individuals from 70 families homeless.

It took some time for the firefighters to put out the fire due to its accessibility that they ended up doing a so-called “engine relay.”

Lahug Barangay Captain Hazel Muaña said that the fire victims are temporarily housed at the Lahug Elementary School.

The Cebu City Government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Services headed by Portia Basmayor, is also extending help to the victims while also doing verification process.

Former mayor Michael Rama, through his wife Malou, said he will also extend assistance to the victims. (CEBU NEWS)