Dawn fire razes 39 houses in Tinago

The second day of the Fire Prevention Month was greeted by a dawn fire that razed 39 houses, including the house of an official of Cebu City's Bureau of Fire Protection, in sitio Putat, barangay Tinago.

Affected residents blamed a couple for using a sub-standard ceiling fan which, they said, caused the fire. SFO2 Felix Romero told The Freeman that the fire started around 12:18 a.m.

Fire investigators pegged the losses to property at P800,000.

Based on investigation by fire authorities, the fire started at the small convent of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines chapel occupied by elderly couple Dominador Mag-usara, 71, and his wife Rose, 66.

City Fire Marshal, Esmael Codilla raised the fire alarm to general alarm as the fire quickly spread since the houses were mostly made of light materials aside from the strong winds.

Firefighters fought the fire for one hour and ten minutes before it was declared under control. It was around 4:15 in the morning before the fire was totally put out.

Among the victims of the fire was SFO3 Allen Arciaga, the chief of the city fire investigation section of the BFP, who managed to save only his family while helping his neighbors in putting out the fire.

Arciaga told reporters that upon hearing his neighbors' warning of the fire, he immediately woke his family up and instructed them to bring whatever they could grab and find a safe place.

He then went to help his neighbors put out the fire, but when he returned, his house was already burning.

Romero said firefighters experienced difficulties in maneuvering the firetrucks because of the narrow road in the area and the fire hydrants were only located outside the main road.

When interviewed by reporters, the Mag-usara couple denied the accusation that they were using sub-standard ceiling fan. But a neighbor of the couple told reporters that they heard a loud explosion from the couple's house before the fire broke out.

Romero said at least four people were injured during the fire. Those who are injured were identified as FO3 Ramon Molina, a member of the Parian Fire Sub-station, 87-year-old Flaviana Valiente, and brothers Michael and Marvin Pasana.

Molina suffered a cut in his left ring finger caused by a sharp metal sheet while Valiente suffered a minor burn in her left forearm. The Pasana brothers both suffered lacerated wounds in their feet.

According to Codilla, the affected families were temporarily housed inside the multi-purpose hall of the Tinago barangay hall needing tents, beddings and food.

Romero said it was the third time the sitio was hit by the fire since 1988. In 2003, nearly a hundred houses were razed down by a major fire that hit the area. - Edwin Ian Melecio