1 person hurt, 30 families lose homes to Zamboanga City fire

At least six fire stations helped put out the big fire on Falcatan Street in Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City. The fire which started a few minutes before noon, Monday, Jan. 10, left more than 30 families homeless. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY ARJO RODRIGUEZ

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur––At least 30 families lost their homes to a fire Monday in Barangay Tetuan in this city.

Except for one resident who suffered second-degree burns, no fatality was reported, according to Chief Inspector Jacqueline Ortega, the city fire marshal.

But the damage to properties was placed at P500,000, as the affected houses were mostly of light materials, Ortega explained.

He identified the injured resident as William Francisco, 50, who suffered second-degree burns on his right palm.

At least six fire stations helped put out the big fire on Falcatan Street in Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City. The fire which started a few minutes before noon, Monday, Jan. 10, left more than 30 families homeless. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS BY ARJO RODRIGUEZ

Investigators traced the fire to the house of Virginia Langga at Francisco Drive, Falcatan Street in the village, at the ceiling of the room occupied by Jilian Langga, 16.

“The fire alarm reached the second level, and we received firefighting support from six other stations,” Ortega said, referring to the responding fire stations, which included Sta. Maria, Central Fire Station, Tumaga Sub-Station, Sta. Catalina, and Special Rescue Force transport vehicles.

“These included two water tankers from the city government and one from the water district. But we still have to ascertain the cause of the fire,” he added.

The affected families were housed at the covered court of Tetuan.

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