Firefighters battle yesterday’s Talisay City fire. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
A MID-morning fire caused by an unplugged cell phone charger yesterday destroyed 21 houses and displaced at least 30 families in Sitio Laray, Barangay San Roque, Talisay City.
SFO2 Rodolfo Laugue, Talisay City Fire Department investigator, estimated the damage to property at P100,000.
Initial investigation showed that the fire started at the house of Stella Rontal, who charged her cell phone in her room and left the gadgets unattended.
Aljun Rontal, 18, Stella’s son, suffered bruises on his body after he jumped out the window of his second-story room to escape the fire, said SFO2 Sherwin Algoso, who interviewed Aljun.
Ella Jane Quimada, 18, suffered a cut on her foot when she stepped on a G.I. (galvanized iron) sheet during the fire.
The fire victims are now staying in tents provided by the barangay at the fire scene. They were supposed to be evacuated to the barangay’s covered court but they refused.
Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes said the city government may have a problem in releasing cash assistance to the fire victims because of the election ban on the disbursement of public funds.
Delos Reyes, however, assured that the city government will still help them despite the ban.
He said he has ordered the City Social Welfare and Services office to provide food for the victims for at least three days.
Laugue, on the other hand, said the fire was reported at 9:37 a.m. and was put under control at 9:59 a.m.