Blaze hits 3 areas in Cebu

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Three separate fire incidents Tuesday, March 17, destroyed more than a hundred houses and left thousands homeless in the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, and the northern town of Medellin.

The largest fire broke out at 9:05 am in a congested portion of Barangay Pardo in Cebu City. At the height of the blaze, the alarm was raised to Task Force Alpha, the highest level of alarm for a fire incident.

Cebu City Fire Marshall Rogelio Bongabong said Tuesday morning at least 60 houses were razed, damaging an estimated P600,000 worth of properties.

In the afternoon, the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) raised the figures to at least 122 houses. The City Hall also estimated that at least 1,000 individuals were left homeless.

Fire trucks that travelled around the city caused traffic build up at the N. Bacalso Highway in downtown Cebu City.

Firefighters put the fire near the University of San Jose – Recoletos – Basak Campus under control after two hours.

But after a few minutes, the fire spread out to three adjoining barangay districts: Ulap, Laguna, and Bamboo.

Chief Inspector Bongabong told Rappler that children believed to be playing with matches or a lighter triggered the blaze. Witnesses pointed to the second floor of the house owned by Sophea Valdizamo as the origin of the flames.

No one was reported injured in the blaze although the Pardo police station was able to arrest a man who tried to loot houses while the families were busy salvaging their belongings. 

Other incidents

Just after firefighters had put out the fire at Barangay Pardo, another alarm rang at 3 pm in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City. The fire in the congested Zone Talong was also placed under Task Force Alpha but was controlled 55 minutes after the firefighters came.

As of 6 pm Tuesday, data from the Mandaue City fire department showed at least 38 houses were destroyed. Children left playing with matches were also believed to have caused the fire.

About 100 families lost their homes in sitios Batong, and Talong, according to the Paknaan barangay council. 

Meanwhile, another fire broke out in a poultry farm in Barangay Curva in the northern town of Medellin, according to a 2pm Facebook post of Mayor Ricardo Ramirez. The town is among those devasted by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.

In his post, Ramirez complained about the neighboring Bogo City Fire Station ,which refused to help put out the fire in his town. He said he will file a complaint before the provincial fire marshall’s office. (PROJECT MOVE: Fire safety forum) – Rappler.com