Mandaue fire damages 6 houses, 2 classrooms

A fire at the crack of dawn in Mandaue City forced the suspension of classes in Umapad Elementary School after two of its classrooms were damaged.

Six other houses were destroyed, according to Mandaue City arson investigator SF01 Cipriano Codilla.

Roger Paller, information officer of the Mandaue City government, said the school had to implement three class shifts for Grade Six pupils because of the fire.

Paller said the city government will be sending tents to be used as temporary classrooms.

Of the two Grade Six classrooms, Paller said only one classroom was badly damaged by fire, the other classroom sustained water damage.

Fire broke out at 4:15 a.m. last Thursday and was put under control at 4:28 a.m., according to Codilla.

Codilla said the fire started at the house of Pepita Calzada, 55, in UN Avenue and spread to five other houses.

Rodrigo Aldaya, who rented the upper portion of Calzada’s house was awakened by smoke from the lower portion of the house. He immediately went out from the burning house together with his children and wife.

The two classrooms were located at the second floor of the building.

Umapad barangay captain Nelson Rubio told reporters Calzada went to Carbon Market to buy goods for her sari-sari store.

Calzada admitted that she doesn’t usually turn off the light and the ceiling fan in her room.

Codilla said Calzada was at Carbon Market when the reportedly broke out in her room.

Based on the account of Calzada, the fire could have been caused by an overheated ceiling fan. Calzada’s live in partner Jovencio Semblante suffered minor burns.

The damage of properties was pegged at P180,000.

The fire victims temporarily sheltered in tents provided beside Umapad elementary school. Eleven families were affected from the fire, six owners and five renters.

The City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) and Umapad Barangay Council provided fire victims with their immediate needs like packed meals./Jhunnex Napallacan and Jucell Marie P. Cuyos