Woman jumps from burning house: Cordova blaze kills 3 pets

CEBU, Philippines — A late evening fire broke out in a house inside a subdivision in Brgy. Alegria, Cordova town, killing three pets and forcing a woman to jump off from the second floor.

The woman, identified as Kassandra Jane Umbay, was reportedly on the second floor sleeping when she heard an explosion from the ground floor of the house past 10 pm, June 11, 2024.

Umbay, a friend of the caretaker of the house, then checked where the explosion came from, but saw that an outlet near the gas tank was already on fire, which spread fast on the first floor.

She then went back to the second floor and jumped out of the window to save herself from the growing fire.

Khaycee Princess Redoble, a neighbor who witnessed the incident, said they saw Umbay jump from the house and heard her shout for help.

“Ang baye mismo ni layat. Kami gyud una nakakita kay nisyagit man siya, nangayog tabang,” said Redoble.

“Wala dayun mi katawag dali og rescue kay dili ma contact mayo gani kay naay isa ka laki nadali og adtu sa munisipyo para makatawag og rescue. And also, gamit gyud kaayo ang firewall sa ilang house kay wala gyud nakatakud sa pikas balay or else daghan gyud nadamay,” Redoble added.

According to Fire Officer 2 Crislor Sosas, they received the call about the fire from the Cordova Police Station.

“Naka receive mi’g call sir gikan sa PNP Cordova, diri ra sa tapad namo. Sila mao’y nanawag, naa pud nag inform nila, unya gipadaganan dayun 10:14,” Sosas disclosed, adding the fire was declared under control at 10:35 pm.

Sosas said they are still investigating the cause of the fire, which gutted the house and left an estimated damage of around P200,000. He also confirmed that two cats and one dog were killed in the incident, while Umbay was not injured.

Lelita Jackson, the house owner who is currently in Finland, learned of the incident an hour after when the caretaker and the subdivision president called her. — John Mark Dejito /ATO (FREEMAN)