P10M damage in 3 fire incidents

CEBU, Philippines — Close to P10 million worth of properties were destroyed in three separate fire incidents, including in Carmen town, northern Cebu.

Eleven houses were destroyed in the fire in Carmen with an estimated damage of P8.4 million, as disclosed by Fire Officer 2 Kevin Casinto, fire and arson investigator of Carmen Fire Station.

Casinto said they received the fire alarm at 12:05 in the morning of September 7, 2024 and immediately went up to the second alarm.

The fire that destroyed the residential houses made of mixed wood and concrete, were situated in Barangay Cogon East of the said town.

An initial 20 families or 84 individuals were affected, while no casualties or injuries were reported.

The fire was put under control at 12:30 am and was declared fire out at 12:50 am.

“Medyo nadali ra ang pag responde namo sa fire alarm kay duol ra man sa among fire station ang fire scene,” said Casinto, but added that the narrow road became a challenge in responding.

As the place is heavily populated, Casinto said they have actually conducted fire safety measures in the area.

As of yesterday, they are looking into the faulty electrical wiring as the possible cause of the fire, but they can only be certain after conducting electrical analysis in the house where the fire started.

Carmen town Mayor Carlo Villamor, in his Facebook post, said that the fire victims are temporarily sheltered at Barangay Cogon East Covered Court.

“Human sa dakong sunog gabie nga ni ugdaw sa 13 ka panimalay, ato dayun ge atiman ang ilang ka puy-an hangtud nga maka barog sila ug balik. Sa gusto mo tabang pwedi kaayo e-diretso didto sa mga biktima,” said the mayor.

Cebu City

Meanwhile, a morning fire hit a two-storey apartment on Calli Azul St., Brgy. Lahug, Cebu City.

Fire Officer 1 Marvin Romana, dispatcher and radio operator of Cebu City Fire Station said that the fire was raised to first alarm at 8:23 a.m. and was put under control at 8:35 a.m., preventing it from spreading to nearby houses.

It was declared fire out at 8:42 a.m. leaving an estimated damage of P1.2 million.

One family comprising 17 individuals were living in the burnt property.

In a separate incident, around five BFP firetrucks plus another 15 more from volunteer groups responded to a burning mini fuel tanker along North 7 Road St. in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City.

Romana said that they received the fire alarm at 11:25 p.m. on September 6, 2024. It was put under control at 11:44 p.m. and declared fire out at 11:49 p.m.

Twenty-four-year-old Vincent Enon sustained second degree burns in different parts of his body. He was immediately brought to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Romana added that the fire that caused an estimated damage of P200,000 is still under investigation.  — (FREEMAN)