THE surviving victim of last Thursday’s fire in Mandaue City, which killed three persons, belied fire investigators theory that the fire started in the house’s kitchen.
Aida Ouano, 40, who suffered third degree burns in her arms, face and legs, and was still confined at the intensive care unit of a Cebu City hospital, told her nephew, Joemar Ouano, what happened.
Aida told Joemar that the fire started in her room.
According to Aida, she went upstairs from the ground floor to her room, but when she opened the door, she was engulfed in fire causing her burns.
She said that because she was shocked, she ran downstairs to seek help.
She also said that she also wanted to warn her sister, Ma. Lyn Ouano-King, 50; Ma. Lyn’s daughter, May Crislyn King, 16; and her brother, Nestor, 60, who were on the other rooms, but the fire had already engulfed the stairway leading to the rooms.
SFO2 Cipriano Codilla Jr., Mandaue City fire station chief, said that they had yet to determine what really caused the fire but would need Aida’s help.
Codilla said they wanted to know if Aida had some gadgets or electronic devices that she used when she left her room.
The remains of the the three victims — Nestor, Ma. Lyn and Crislyn — were cremated yesterday and would be available for a wake starting today at the house of Erlinda Ouano, the sister of Ma. Lyn and Nestor, at Villalida Subdivision in Tayud, Liloan town in northern Cebu.
Erlinda Ouano is currently in Sweden and will be home today (Saturday).
Ma. Lyn’s husband, Crescencio King, who is currently in the United States, has already booked a flight and will also be home today.
Earlier, a friend of Crescencio King started a Gofundme fundraising drive after they learned of the tragedy.
As of yesterday, the site for funds for Crescencio had already raised $2,255 from 30 donors.
According to the Gofundme site, Crescencio had recently gone back to the US from Cebu where he attended the graduation of her daughter, Crislyn, last April.
The three victims would be buried on Sept. 11 at the Calero Cemetery in Liloan town northern Cebu.