Firefighters at drill called to actual fire

CEBU, Philippines - For firefighters and emergency personnel, a fire drill in IT Park quickly escalated into the real deal after they were called to respond to a fire in nearby Barangay Banilad, Cebu City yesterday afternoon.

Around 50 families were left homeless by the fire that destroyed 20 houses.

Damage was estimated at P200,000 by arson investigator Nick Ouano of the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Firefighters received the alarm at 2:42 p.m. They said they were able to control it immediately after they arrived at the scene.

Ouano said initial investigation indicates that the fire started at the house owned by Raymond Bindo. But this was denied by Raymond’s wife, Melissa, who alleged that fire started at the second floor of the eatery owned by Raymond Rosales, located adjacent to their house.

Melissa alleged that she saw the fire engulfed the eatery of Rosales and due to her fear, she failed to save some belongings as she rushed to rescue her three children aged 6, 4, and 3, who were sleeping at that time.

She tried to go back to her house but decided not to do so anymore as the fire had spread to nearby houses.

“Kasagaran made of light materials, dali kaayo nakadako ang kayo,” said Ouano.

The fire also caused billboards to collapse and topple into the burned houses. The glass panes of some windows of the PDI condominium located nearby also cracked due to the heat.

Those left homeless were temporarily sheltered in the gymnasium of Barangay Banilad, said Barangay Captain Nicolas Leyson Jr. Social workers from Cebu City later arrived and assisted the fire victims who were also given food.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella also arrived in the scene.

Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman said it was lucky that the BFP was conducting a fire drill together with the Emergency Response Team in IT Park when the fire broke out.

Ayuman and Cebu City Fire Marshall Rogelio Bongabong then proceeded to the area with some fire trucks.

No one was reported injured in the incident. (FREEMAN)