Second fire in barangay Tinago destroys 8 houses

In a span of 20 minutes, two fires hit Cebu City yesterday afternoon.

Eight houses were gutted by the blaze that broke out at 4:48 p.m. in sitio Silangan Dos, barangay Tinago, near the area hit by a big fire just last Tuesday.

After 20 minutes, a sari-sari store in barangay Tisa was in flames.  It was put under control by  fire fighters who went straight from Tinago to Tisa.

The Bureau of Fire Protection is investigating the cause of both fires.

Meanwhile, affected fire victims of Tuesday’s fire in  Tinago  are appealing for help in cash or in kind so they can rebuild their homes and get on with their lives.

Residents  of at least 39 houses destroyed in the fire are staying in tents provided by the barangay and Cebu city government.

Nenita Silva,  owner of the house where the fire allegedly started, appealed for help.

“Maayo unta kun naay maluoy namo labi na kay Pasko (It would be good if someone takes pity on us especially since it’s Christmas),” she said.

Her daughter Olen, who lost consciousness in the house during the fire,  is still in the hospital for injuries in the face and shoulder.

Silva denied reports that  Christmas lights  at home had caused the fire. She said she made  sure to turn them off before going to bed.

She said she suspects an electrical switch got wet during the rain,  sparked and triggered the fire.

Silva who owns a store said she lost all her proceeds. However, coins worth P12,000 were  found in the burned ruins and were  used for her daughter’s hospital bills.

Seven-year-old Christian, a grade 2 pupil, said he can’t go to school because he wasn’t  able to save any of his books or uniforms.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he was considering reblocking sitio Silangan, barangay Tejero, for safety purposes since the area  was hit by fire twice in less than a week.

He visited the neighborhood just a few hours before the second fire hit yesterday.

During the visit, Rama said he would discuss the Tejero issue with the  Cebu City  risk reduction management council.

“We still have to discuss all the odds before we decide if we have to implement  reblocking.” Rama said.

Last Monday, a fire in Dalaguete town, south Cebu  razed two houses.

Firefighters who arrived  were helpless when their equipment malfunctioned.

The fire truck acquired by the Bureau of Fire Protection was already 30 years old, explained Insp. Rodrigo Nayne, the town’s fire marshal.

The fire razed the house of the parents of Dalaguete town councilor Francis Belciña and a neighbor’s house.

Inspectors were looking into  allegations that the fire was caused by an overcharged flashlight. /Chito O. Aragon, Correspondent with a report from Correspondents Edison A. delos Angeles and Jhunnex Napallacan