164 families or 684 individuals affected Fire destroys 84 houses in 3 Mambaling sitios

CEBU, Philippines - Residents were roused from their sleep when a fire broke out in two thickly populated sitios in Alaska, Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City yesterday dawn, reducing 84 houses into ashes.

The fire, which was reported at 3:52 am, started in sitio Huyong-huyong and spread like wild fire in sitio Tinabangay and was eventually controlled at 5:06 am, said SFO1 Lowel Opolentisima of Cebu City Fire Department.

Opolentisima said they raised the status of the fire to task force alpha so fire trucks and fire personnel from neighboring cities and municipalities could also respond to help control the blaze.

The fire ate up some P600,000 worth of property. The houses, which were situated near each oth er, were mostly made of light materials. The fire reached some shanties situated in the sea area.

Initial investigation showed that the fire originated from the house of Ester Carbinero. Since the rest of the houses were made of light materials as well, the flames quickly spread and even grew larger when it hit a retail store selling LPG tanks.

“Ningsamot na nuon kadako ang kayo ug ningtabok na nuon sa sitio Tinabangay,” the fire investigator informed. An explosion was also heard from the burning LPG tanks, he added.

Opolentisima said the narrow roads leading to the burning houses made them difficult to penetrate and immediately control the fire.

“Nag-engine relay na lang mi kay lisod gyud sudlon,” he said.

The fire investigator said they also almost ran out of water. Luckily, they found a stub-out or water outlet in the area owned by the Metro Cebu Water District and used its water since the water hydrant was at a distance.

“Nanglungkab na lang mi sa water connection sa MCWD, tungod kay emergency na man gud. Dako g’yud ‘tong tabang ilang tubig,” said Opolentisima.

The fire investigator said they are still trying to determine what triggered the fire which was initially traced to electrical misuse.

Later after putting out the fire, Opelentisima said they approached Carbinero to let her answer the allegations that the fire started from her house.

However, he said, Carbinero was not cooperative and just denied the allegation.

“Ato lang gihapon na siya invite-on for the investigation apil ‘tong mga witnesses na ningtumbok na didto gyud daw sa ila nagsugod ang kayo,” said Opolentisima.

Other residents would also say that the fire started at the house of Geraldine Densing, which was situated just beside Carbinero’s house.

Densing, 43, however denied the accusation, and even complained her neighbors for allegedly being lax in their security that unfortunately led to the fire.

“Nag-amping gyud mi diri sa amo. Among stove ug ubang appliances amo gyud nang pawngon usa matog,” she said. As far as she knows, the fire stared at the house at the back of hers. She was not able to save anything. Her house, where she also sells food, was razed, so she lost at least P50,000 in her business.

To ensure due assistance is given to the Sunday dawn fire victims, a headcount was yesterday ordered by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Following a personal visit to the razed 84 houses in sitios Tinabangay and Huyong-huyong, Rama wanted to make sure that recipients of aid from the City Government is properly documented and checked.

“I want to have an inventory of victims to be categorized as sharers, owners, and renters,” the mayor told reporters after going around and talking to victims.

The evacuation center for the homeless 164 families and 684 individuals was also another thing that the mayor wanted to clarify after seeing that some of the settlers did not leave their burnt houses and mounted tents as temporary shelter.

“Ipaklaro na nato ang asa mu-stay ang mga fire victims. I was told that the official evacuation site is the Sitio Viking sports complex,”

Asked if roads need to be widened, Rama said he found them not to be too narrow but noticed that the population is not parallel with the area that they live in.

He also noted that the electrical wires were too near the houses which could have caused the fire to easily spread to the adjacent block.

“We will have these wires checked since these were also affected by the fire,” he said.

Reblocking will be considered following thorough discussions with the city Quick Action Response Team.

The Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) has provided the victims with food and other immediate needs since Sunday morning. — /JPM (FREEMAN)