Mandaue fire razes 15 shanties

AT LEAST 15 shanties built along creeks were razed in an afternoon fire yesterday in barangay Mantuyong, Mandaue City.

Property damage was pegged at P50,000.

No one was reported injured.

Investigators said the fire started at the house of Nelly Villegas.

SFO1 Roy Garcia, fire investigator of the Mandaue fire station, said there were children playing in the house before the fire broke out and that the children may have been playing matches.

The flooring of the house was made of cardboard.

Mantuyong barangay captain Antonio Maquilan said he would consult with the city legal office if the fire victims could still rebuild their shanties, which were occupying a restricted zone.

Candido Hernando Jr, 61, one of the fire victims, said he has been living in the area since birth.

Hernando’s sari-sari store and appliances were destroyed by the fire.

Hernando said he was not sure if he could still rebuild his shanty since it was located within a restricted three-meter easement zone.

Firefighters from barangay Tipolo Fire Brigade, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, and Cebu City responded to the alarm. CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA