Fire razes 40 Mandaue homes

Over 40 houses were destroyed while eight houses were damaged in a fire that broke out in barangay Banilad, Mandaue City, yesterday afternoon.

Property  damage was estimated at  P1.2 million. The fire lasted 55 minutes.  No one was  reported injured.

Chief Insp. Rogelio Bongabong, Mandaue City, fire marshal, said the fire started at the house of Joseph Ongkoy.

The cause of the fire had yet to be determined. Bongabong said they have yet to verify reports that an explosion was heard inside Ongkoy’s home.

Mandaue firefighters had to call for  assistance from neighboring fire stations in Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion and Liloan towns.

Most of the houses were made of light materials and  located 60 meters from the main road.

Since the alleys leading to the area were narrow, firefighters had to connect hoses to deliver water to the fire scene.

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Glen Bercede went to the area where he once served as  a barangay captain.

Displaced families can  take shelter at the Banilad Elementary School for the meantime, he said.

Bercede said house owners will be given financial aid of  P10,000 each while those who rent apartments will receive P5,000.

Some of burned houses occupied a private lot, where the owner and  settlers have a  pending case before the court.

If the settlers are barred from rebuilding their homes, the vice mayor said they may be sent to the Mandaue City government’s relocation site in barangay Paknaan.

Bercede said the families will receive construction materials and food relief from the city.

Businessman Glenn Soco also went to the area to inspect an unfinished building that will house his business nearby.

The Mandaue City fire department received the alarm at 1:25 p.m. and put out the fire at 2:20 p.m.

Vivian Domingo, one of the residents whose house was completely burned down, said she was at the mall when the fire happened.

Her 84-year-old father had to leave the house when the fire broke out.

Although they lost their belongings to the fire, Vivina said she is relieved that no one was injured.