8 fires hit Cebu City in 12 hrs on Sunday
At least three people were injured in several fire incidents that hit various parts of Cebu City over the weekend, leaving an estimated P2.2 million in property damage.
The Cebu City Fire Office responded to eight fire incidents on Sunday, January 28, in just 12 hours. Four of these fire incidents hit a residential area, one hit a mercantile, and three of were grass fires.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendell Villanueva of the Bureau of Fire Protection-7 said that “faulty electrical wiring” caused the residential fires while the burning of garbage caused the grass fires.
Villanueva asked the people to be wary of purchasing substandard household electrical equipment since it may also cause fire.
“Atong hangyo sa publiko nga if possible, likayan nato ang kining paggamit sa mga de-kuryente nga applicances nga substandard ug kaning mga electrical wiring pud nga barato kaayo nga we know the quality is kwestyunable,” Villanueva said.
“Kanang mga kwestyunable nato nga mga appliances, ato nang, if possible, e-dispose nato na kay number one cause of fire is electrical,” he added.
He also discouraged burning of garbage and dry leaves as they may also ignite a fire, just like what happened in La Guardia, Lahug last Sunday.
The first fire incident hit Lower Kabajar Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City, at 5:50 in the morning, destroying five houses and damaging two others, affecting 40 individuals and nine families.
A few hours later, the firefighters responded to another alarm at Lower Torre, Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City, at 9:14 a.m. Two houses were razed to the ground while one was damaged before it was declared fire out at 9:50 a.m. At least three families were affected, including nine individuals.
A mercantile also caught fire at around 10 a.m. resulting in property damage. It was followed by a grass fire in Tisa hills late at 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, another fire incident happened in Bacayan, Cebu City, at 11:03 am, which hit 12 structures. There were also 22 individuals affected, including seven families. The firstalarm fire also injured three individuals, including a fireman.
The injured individuals were aged 13 and 14. The 14-yearold sustained second-degree burns on her right arm and leg, while the 3-year-old suffered from a second-degree burn on her right arm and shoulder. A fire officer was also suffered first-degree burn on the right hand.
Just when you thought the day was over, another grass fire hit La Guardia, Lahug at 3:50 p.m. It was followed by another grass fire at the South Road Properties (SRP).
The last fire incident on Sunday was reported at 6:28 p.m. at Sitio Trinidad, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, affecting a residential area.
So far, the BFP-7 has already recorded 39 fires since January 1 leaving at least P19 million in property damage. The number is higher compared to the 16 fire incidents in January last year.