A Monday afternoon fire burned around 150 homes in Almer’s Compound in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City. | Raul Constantine Tabanao
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Around 150 houses were razed by the fire that hit Barangay Tabok in Mandaue City this afternoon, February 17, 2020.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Edgar Vergara of the Mandaue City Fire Department said narrow roads impeded them from quickly reaching the fire scene.
“Ang gibuhat sa atong mga bombero is nag-hose relay lang ta,” Vergara said in an interview.
(Our firemen implemented hose relay to reach the fire site.)
When they penetrated the area, Vergara said they were slowed down by the narrow roads that were also used by rushing residents who were trying to save their belongings.
The Tabok fire was already the second alarm that was received by the Mandaue City Fire Department in less than 12 hours.
At around 2 a.m., a fire also burned homes in Barangay Centro which also caused the death of a retired judge and his wife. Their grandson remains missing.
Read: Retired judge, wife sacrificed their lives to save grandchild
The city’s fire department received the fire alarm in Barangay Tabok at 1 p.m. It was raised to Task Force Alpha by the Cebu Provincial Fire Marshall at 1:44 p.m. before it was finally put out at 4:06 p.m.
Damage to property was pegged at about P450,000.
Read: Retired judge and wife reportedly among those killed in Mandaue fire
Vergara said that the Tabok fire was believed to have started on the second floor of the house owned by Grace Balaba.
He said they are looking into the possibility of faulty electrical wiring as the cause of the fire.
Tabok Barangay Captain Dario Tarriman said the area, called Almer’s Compound, is a privately owned lot which the owners were leasing to its occupants.
Tarriman said most of the houses were made of light materials and were very tight.
The fire victims are currently taking shelter at the barangay gymnasium while the City Social Welfare and Services Office are currently taking the residents’ information. /dcb