Over 100 houses burn in Suba; 5th fire in March alone

Elizabeth del Pilar was preparing her three children for school when fire broke out before 7 a.m. yesterday in the coastal barangay of Suba, Cebu City.

She grabbed some clothes, school supplies and ran out with her kids.

“I just made sure to save their clothes and school materials,” she said in Cebuano.

“The fire spread so quickly.”

More than 100 houses were destroyed in the fire fifth to hit Cebu City since the start of March, which is Fire Prevention Month.

Residents in the congested neighborhood talked about how a fallen candle, possibly used in an illegal shabu session, may have started it, but an official investigation has yet to establish the cause of the blaze.

Suba barangay captian Rogelio Resurrecion said the fire started in the house of Tessie Tabucal. He said he was aware of rumors that the house was a hangout for drug users but said this still has to be verified. He said the fire could have also been caused by a neglected kerosene lamp or defective electrical wiring.

A total of 148 houses were destroyed in Block 1 and Block 2 (formerly sitio Wakwak) located between Belgium and General Gines streets, based on an initial survey, said Resurrecion. Six other houses were partly damaged.

The fire left 433 families or 2,069 individuals homeless.

Most of the families or 152 were home owners while the rest were renters (72 families) and house sharers (205 families).

The barangay council was set to declare a state of calamity in order to release calamity funds to assist victims.

The Cebu City fire department reported 95 houses were destroyed and 11 houses were damaged.

The fire department said the fire was tapped at 7:15 a.m. and was declared under control after 10 minutes when there was no more risk of flames spreading.

But barangay secretary Adriana Mahusay, who lost her house in the calamity, said she was still in bed talking to her husband when neighbors started shouting “fire” at 6:45 a.m.

Cebu City fire marshal Sr. Supt. Aderson Comar pegged property damage at P1.1 million with three persons injured.

Residents ran out of their homes in panic, their breakfast forgotten.

Many failed to save their belongings because the fire spread so fast, said Resurrecion.

Among the victims were two barangay councilors, the barangay secretary and a tanod.

The house of barangay councilor Ramir Menguito, the house of his parents and his in-laws were destroyed.

Councilor Marlon Patalinghug’s unoccupied house and barangay secretary Ardiana Mahusay’s house were also razed.

Mahusay said her husband stepped out to help put out the fire, but returned soon after when he saw their house was also in danger.

“Nagsalig man gud ko kay diha naman ang mini-fire truck sa among barangay (We were confident at first because there’s a mini-fire truck in the barangay), she said.

The couple and their 3-year-old child abandoned the house and moved to the barangay hall. They were able to save their television set, refrigerator and some clothes.

Fire victims were evacuated to the barangay sports complex and old Pasil fish port.

Resurreccion appealed for donations of clothes because most victims weren’t able to save their belongings.