Guadalupe fire razes 30 houses, injures 3

At least 30 houses in an urban poor sitio of Sambag, barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City were razed in a fire that struck yesterday.

Three residents were brought to the hospital for minor burns and difficulty in breathing.

Firefighters had to lay down a long hose line to reach the interior of the sitio that was inaccessible to firetrucks.

Arson investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire that was reported to have ignited at 2:25 p.m. and placed under control in less than 30 minutes, said Insp. Jose Laurito, acting Cebu City fire marshal.

The fire reportedly started in the house of Josebel Rojas and quickly spread to neighboring houses which were made of light materials.

Luarito pegged property damage at P200,000.

The number of affected families has yet to be determined.

Guadalupe barangay Captain Michael Gacasan said at least two families lived in one house.

Fire officials raised a general alarm as the area was located 300 meters from the access road.

Gacasan called for an emergency session of the Guadalupe barangay council last night to declare a state of calamity in the sitio and facilitate the release of emergency assistance.

Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, who lives in barangay Guadalupe, promised to give P1,000 emergency cash assistance to the fire victims.

He pledged P10,000 from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for each household whose house burned down.