AT least 254 persons or 49 families and 10 renters were affected by the fire that razed 39 houses in sitio Vito, P. Remedio Street in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City, last Sunday evening.
They were given bed mats, tarpaulins, used clothing, towels and kitchen utensils but will need more help to rebuild their lives, said social welfare officer Jeffrey Mirafuentes.
City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) chief Violeta Cavada said they are trying to verify the owner of the property where the houses stood.
The City Council will be asked to declare the sitio in a state of calamity to hasten the release of cash aid.
Property damage was pegged at P342,000.
SFO2 Roy Garcia of the Mandaue City Fire Department said they have yet to verify complaints of residents that the fire was caused by sparks from a nearby electric post.
Garcia said they are interviewing three witnesses of the fire outbreak who said they saw sparks coming from a post of the Visayan Electric Power Co. (Veco). Veco said the matter is being investigated.
Veco spokesperson Ethel Natera said engineering personnel insist that sparks are caused by loose electrical wiring that can be repaired, but don’t develop into flames.
Garcia said the copper wire recovered from the electric post will be sent to the arson section of the Bureau of Fire Protection Manila office.
The fire was reported at 11:53 p.m. It was under control in 20 minutes and put out after an hour and 30 minutes.
Garcia said the wires fell down on Imelda Sarabosing’s house made of light materials and flames spread to other houses.
Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing of Cebu’s 6th district also sent some relief goods and blankets to the affected residents. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos