Fire displaces more than 100 residents
MANILA, Philippines — At least 22 families, or 102 individuals, were displaced after a fire hit sitio Mary Grace in Barangay Budlaan, Cebu City on Friday morning, October 30.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the incident caused an estimated P300,000 in property damage.
The Cebu City Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), in its final report, recorded 16 houses as totally damaged and one other as slightly damaged.
Six sharers were also listed among the affected households.
As of Saturday, October 31, the displaced families were temporarily staying at the Kapasar Gymnasium, which was designated as an evacuation center following the incident.
The Cebu City Fire Station received the fire report at around 7:29 a.m. on Friday. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 7:40 a.m., 11 minutes after the fire engine left the station.
The blaze was placed under control at 8:04 a.m. and was declared out at 8:36 a.m.
A total of 10 firefighters and five fire trucks were deployed to respond to the incident, with one ambulance and six auxiliary personnel also taking part in the operation.
Initial investigation indicated that the fire started at a residential property owned and occupied by Jeffrey Tradio before spreading to nearby structures. The affected area was estimated at around 350 square meters.
No casualties or injuries were recorded during the incident. Investigators are still determining the possible cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding it.
Meanwhile, the DSWS facilitated the registration of fire victims and internally displaced persons (IDPs) for documentation and assessment.
The department also scheduled verification and validation activities for the first and second days after the fire to determine the needs of the affected households.
The affected households were also recommended for financial assistance under the city’s disaster account, along with relief goods, housing materials, rice, and other essential supplies to help them recover. — (FREEMAN)
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