Firefighters (above) battle an afternoon fire in Barangay Pardo, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO / JUNJIE MENDOZA)
At least three persons were injured after a mid-afternoon fire burned six homes at the La Familia Subdivision in Barangay Poblacion Pardo, Cebu City on Saturday.
Ester Mariquit, 66, and Kyle Velarde sustained minor burns on their body while trying to flee their burning houses, while a third victim, Elizabeth Escatan, sustained a cut on her feet.
Senior Fire Officer 3 Rogelio Valencia of the Cebu City Fire Department said the fire started at the second floor of Mariquit’s house.
“We have yet to determine the actual cause of the fire, but maybe it has something to do with a busted electrical connection,” he said in an interview.
The fire which broke at 11:40 a.m. also damaged five other nearby houses. It was placed under control 34 minutes later.
Valencia said Mariquit was at her living room when the fire started at the upper floor of the six-storey house.
Because the subdivision was located in the interior of Poblacion Pardo, firefighters had difficulty in reaching the area. They had to connect their fire hoses in order to spray water into the burning houses.
Mariquit managed to escape her burning house but she suffered burns on her cheeks, left hand and back.
Medics from the Cebu City Fire Department gave Escatan and Mariquit first aid treatment.