Fire hits riverside village in Cebu City

CEBU CITY – Residents of sitio Riverside in Barangay (village) Capitol Site in Cebu City on Monday had to cross a foot bridge to get to the other side of the river and escape their burning houses.

Fire broke in the area, located a block away from the Cebu Provincial Capitol, at 11:23 a.m. and damaged 11 structures made from light materials.

The fire site was located at the back of the NBI 7 office.

City Fire Marshal Rogelio Bongabong said they had difficulty putting out the flames because the fire site was in the interior of sitio Riverside and located on the other side of the Guadalupe River.

Fire fighters from the Cebu City Fire Department, FilChinese Fire Brigade and other volunteer groups responded to the alarm.

The fire lasted 20 minutes before it was finally put out.

Damage was pegged at P200,000.

Fire investigators are yet to determine what caused the flame but residents said this could have been caused by children who were said to be playing with fire.

There are about 20 structures built within the three-meter easement in sitio Riverside, said Capitol Site barangay captain Manuel Guanzon.

When the fire broke, families in the area rushed to the foot bridge to cross to the other side of the riverbank. They later settled along Sampaguita Street located in front of NBI7.