Another Mandaue fire displaces 1,000 people

CEBU CITY—At least 1,000 people lost their homes in a fire that struck a relocation area for the poor in Zone Lower Camansi, Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.

While there was no reported casualty in the fire, a malnourished baby girl, estimated to be 5 months old, was rescued from a house that was among those destroyed by the fire.

Fire investigator Nilo Cosido, of the Mandaue City fire department, said at least 193 houses were destroyed in the fire that broke out past 8 a.m.

The fire alert was raised to Task Force Alpha, the highest level, prompting fire trucks from other places in Metro Cebu to help put out the fire. It was declared fire out about an hour later.

Cosido said firefighters had difficulty entering the burning community because of narrow roads in the area.

He said firemen had to connect their hoses at least 100 meters away from the scene of the fire because no water connections were available closer to the fire.

A woman identified only as Cynthia, said to be a local government worker, saved a baby girl, who was apparently abandoned inside a house while the fire was spreading.

Cosido said Cynthia turned over the baby to Mandaue City District Hospital. He added that no one came to claim the baby until 1 p.m., indicating that the infant had been abandoned.

Quoting investigators, Cosido said the fire started in the house of a certain Radencio Ramos.