Fire razes 30 houses in Lahug; toll: P2.2M

A CANDLE left unattended was believed to have sparked the fire last night along Gorordo Ave. in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, which destroyed an estimated P2.2 million in properties.
The fire scene sprawls a few meters away from the barangay hall where the Lahug Fire Sub-Station is housed.

Unfortunately, the Isuzu Squrt fire truck, which the fire department described as one of their most powerful machines, could not be used because it was under repair.
Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos lamented the failure of the fire department to quickly respond.
“Dugay kaayo naabot ang mga fire trucks. Inutil jud kayo (It took the trucks so long to get here. The crew was inutile),” she said.
But Cebu City Fire Marshal Esmael Codilla explained that in responding to a fire alarm, it always takes the fire trucks at least a few minutes to arrive.
Codilla said the firefighters respond the quickest possible time.
“Halos molupad na lang baya nang atong fire trucks (The fire trucks nearly flew),” he said.
Codilla and de los Santos both believe the fire began with a candle in the Magno family’s house.
The family reportedly recently lost its electricity connection and used candles at night, Codilla and de los Santos said in separate interviews.
The firefighting lasted 48 minutes before the flames were declared under control.
At least 30 structures, mostly residential and small establishments, were razed by the fire.
The fire spread to a nearby Christian school.
The Cebu City fire department received the call for help at 8:45 p.m.
Codilla declared the status as “Task Force Alpha,” which is next to the third alarm. This means the fire department in Cebu City has already tapped the assisting fire stations from the neighboring areas in Metro Cebu including the towns of Minglanilla and Consolacion.
De los Santos, said the displaced families will be temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Hall and at the gym.
She said the barangay officials of Lahug will be providing construction materials to the family.
Last night’s fire was the fifth fire that hit the city yesterday, Codilla said.
The four other fires were reported in Labangon, Ermita, Mabolo and Carreta were all minor incidents, he said.(JTG)


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 11, 2009.

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