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Cebu News

Dawn fire kills 4

Iris Hazel Mascardo, Adelyn Landiza - The Freeman
This content was originally published by The Freeman following its editorial guidelines. Philstar.com hosts its content but has no editorial control over it.
Dawn fire kills 4
Several houses were gutted during a fire that ripped through Sitio Sta. Lucia, Barngay Tinago, Cebu City yesterday dawn. The massive blaze left a couple and their two kids dead.
Aldo Banaynal

CEBU, Philippines — A couple and their two kids were killed, while eight others suffered burns from an almost four-hour massive fire that broke out in Sitio Sta. Lucia, Barangay Tinago, Cebu City yesterday dawn.

Following the incident, Mayor Michael Rama warned that barangays that do not implement re-blocking stand to lose financial assistance and their share of the Local Development Fund from the City Government.

He issued the warning yesterday morning, just a few hours after the Tinago fire, over the Sugboanon Channel, a social media page handled by the Cebu City Government.

“Yes, (that’s an) ultimatum. We cannot have any more deaths,” Mayor Rama said.

“"If they will not agree I will not give them financial assistance, if they will not agree I will not get into the Local Development Funds nga akong ipa release nila," he also said.

Re-blocking is usually done by the city government in a lot, usually city-owned and had just been hit by a calamity like fire, where it first ensures that there is a space for a good-sized road that should reach even the interior portions of the area, before equally dividing the remaining space as home lots so the fire victims can rebuild their homes.

This is to make sure that the next time that there is a calamity, responding emergency vehicles like firetrucks and ambulances could easily reach the location, even the innermost parts of the community.

“Mao akong gi balik-balik, re-blocking is atoang gustong buhaton," Mayor Rama said.

Fatalities

The Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO) identified the fatalities as Parulito Otadoy, 60; his wife Rosita Otadoy, 54; and their kids Joseph, 14, and Jeffrey, 12.

Those injured were Keira Marie Otadoy, Neil John Otadoy, Christopher Otadoy, and Dylan Otadoy, who all suffered superficial burns, while Rose Ann Otadoy, 33, and Emarie Otadoy, 36, suffered burns on the upper part of their bodies.

Roby Ruelan, 21, also suffered a lacerated leg, while Jemar Otadoy, 36, suffered burns on his legs.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendell Villanueva, CCFS information officer, said they noticed the fire at 1:43 a.m. and firetrucks arrived at the scene at 1:46 a.m.

Due to the severity of the fire and the need for more hands, the incident was raised to third alarm at 02:23 a.m. and then a fourth alarm at 2:43 a.m. before firefighters were able to place it under control at 4:48 a.m.

Firemen from the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay as well as from the towns of Consolacion, Lilioan, and Minglanilla also responded to the fire, which destroyed 13 houses and damaged three more, causing P7.05 million in destruction and damage to properties.

Villanueva said initial investigation showed that the fire, which displaced 30 families comprising 90 individuals, started on the second floor of the house owned by the Otadoys.

He said Parulito and Rosita attempted to get out of their house since they were found near the door, but may have died from suffocation due to the thick smoke, just like the two children.

He said an investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, but they are looking at electrical problem as a possibility.

“Mag-amping gyud ta, especially sa atong mga electrical wiring, atong ipang-check di ba mga sub-standard atong mga wiring…especially atong mga electrical appliances, atong mga charger and ceiling fan nga mga sub-standard. Dali ra kaayo na moinit…. If possible di mopalit og ingon ana nga mga appliances kay delikado kaayo sa sunog,” Villanueva said.

For this month alone, the CCFO has already responded to over 19 fires that destroyed at least P15 million worth of properties.

Villanueva said narrow streets that lead to the interior portion of the area where yesterday’s fire happened was one of the challenges they encountered in combating the fire.

Mayor Rama said the barangays shouldn't wait for another fire incident to happen before taking action and adopting solutions.

He urged the 80 barangays of the city to take the initiative and institute measures not just against fire but also against landslides, floods, and other calamities that may occur.

He also urged the private sector to be involved, especially in the “clustering” he planned for the barangays.

"I am not oblivious (to the situation) and I will never stop (finding solutions)," the mayor said. — (FREEMAN)

ACCIDENT

FIRE

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