Almost P.5M lost in Calamba fire

CEBU, Philippines - Close to half a million pesos worth of property was lost in last Thursday’s fire along A. Lopez St., Barangay Calamba, that destroyed 41 houses and injured a few people.

Cebu City Fire Department fire marshal William Tacaldo Jr. said the fire, which struck Sitio Mahayahay at past 3 p.m., damaged some P450,000 worth of property, injured at least five people and killed two dogs.

Tacaldo said they are still investigating what triggered the fire, although testimonies from witnesses indicate the fire is traceable to electrical problems or a candle that accidentally lit combustible materials.

Following unconfirmed reports as to where the fire started, Tacaldo said they found out through witnesses that the fire really started from the house of a certain Gema Flores.

Shortly before last Thursday’s heavy rain stopped, the fire broke out destroying 41 houses and damaging three others.

Apart from the narrow access roads, Tacaldo said the houses were mostly made of light and combustible materials so that the fire was quick to spread to other houses.

At least five people were reported to have been injured including fire investigator SFO1 Omar Segovia who suffered from first-degree burns after embers fell on his back. The others injured are in stable condition, Tacaldo said.

Esther Concha of the city government’s Department of Social Welfare and Services said a total of 350 individuals comprising 90 families were affected by the fire.

The fire victims are temporarily sheltered in tents near the barangay hall while some of the residents opted to stay at an open area in the Calamba Cemetery.

Because of heavy rains that may cause flooding in the thickly-populated sitio, Concha said the victims had to be evacuated to higher ground.

She said the DSWS will be proving free meals to the victims for three days and other immediate forms of assistance such as disaster kits and housing materials.

Concha said the housing materials may be delayed because of the planned re-blocking in the place.

Barangay captain Victor Quijano said they will just depend on the city government in its plan to re-block. However, he added the area is a private property acquired through socialized housing.

“Mas maayo siguro kung palapdan lang ang dalan sa A. Lopez kay pareha ra ni problemaha sa nahitabong sunog before,” Quijano said, referring to the fire last June 12 in Barangay Labangon where an elderly couple was killed.

After yesterday’s barangay session, Quijano said they declared Sitio Mahayahay under state of calamity. Immediate cash assistance worth P1,500 will be given each to the family, he said.  (FREEMAN)