20160322 Philippines Another blaze destroy 100 homes- Fire kills man trapped in room
Philippines Mar 21 2016 “Houses”
Dead : dead 1 to 4 Burnout : more than 70 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Another blaze destroy 100 homes: Fire kills man trapped in room
Updated: 2016-03-22-00:00
A tree stands alone, surrounded by destruction, after the fire in Sitio Pungsod, Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City, yesterday morning.
Two fires, 101 houses, one death.
A 42-year-old man died after fire destroyed the house he was renting in Sitio Mantalisay, Barangay Poblacion, Lapu-Lapu City Sunday evening.
Joseph Terrence Ybañez, a widow who works as a car washer, was burned alive after he got trapped when fire caused by a lamp that fell immediately spread in his room around 11:45 p.m.
Fire Officer Danilo Tepaet of the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department said the house, which was owned by Cyz Calbez, was made of light materials.
A neighbor reportedly tried to help Ybañez get out from the burning house but was unable to brave the smoldering falling debris and the intense heat. Tepaet said Ybañez was drunk at that time.
The fire department received the alarm around 11:57 p.m. and the flames were extinguished around 12:25 a.m. yesterday.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Hadjiludin Samonte said that a cat may have accidentally disturbed the gas lamp, causing the fire.
The fire department placed the damage at P5,000 as only one house was destroyed by the fire.
Hours later, however, 100 houses were destroyed when another fire broke out, this time in Sitio Pungsod, Barangay Lawaan III, Talisay City yesterday morning.
The fire department received the alarm at 10:15 a.m. and called for assistance from other areas due to the raging flames caused by high temperature and a strong wind.
Chief Inspector Randy Mendaros, Talisay City Fire Station chief, said they managed to control the fire one hour and 35 minutes later.
He said reaching the scene was a problem because of the narrow street they even had to cut a tree down because it blocked their way.
Fire victim Peroy Labalan told The FREEMAN that they tried to help by dousing the houses with water to prevent the fire from spreading. He, his parents, and most of his siblings lost their homes to the blaze.
“Maayo nalang gani kay wa gyud nasunog ang balay nga among gibuboan og tubig kay daghan pa gyud unta ang maapil,” Labalan said.
Cesaria Felisan, 73, said she was alone in their house when the fire broke out she only managed to save just a few valuables. She, however, she was grateful she was still alive.
Initial investigation revealed that a person in the house of the Colis family where the fire started left what she was cooking unattended.
Another angle investigators were looking into was that children playing with matches were the ones who started the blaze, which caused P400,000 in damage. Luckily, no one got injured in the fire as two boys who were initially reported missing were later found.
City Councilor Danny Caballero, on the other hand, said he immediately proceeded to the scene after residents called him up for help.
“Dali ko nitawag ni maam Solana (of CSWD) aron ila nasab dayong malihok ang mga dinaliang panginahanglanon sa mga naapektohan sa sunog. Dili raba lalim nga masunogan,” he told The FREEMAN. Caballero said he also distributed “lugaw” or porridge to the affected families.
As of last night, Felipa Solana, City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) said they were still listing the names of the affected individuals, whom they estimated to reach more than 100 families.
Web Source: Philstar
http://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/03/23/1565805/20-rescued-fire-hits-building-mandaluyong