Fire razes 13 houses, displaces 35 families
Fire razed 13 houses and displaced at least 35 families and 31 renters yesterday in sitios Sapa-Sapa Dos and Marta in barangay Subangdaku, Mandaue City.
Arson investigator Nilo Cosido said Veronico Pepito was hurt in both legs after he stepped on nails as he escaped from his burning house.
He was taken to the hospital for treatment.
Cosido pegged the damage to property at P130,000.
Cosido said that the fire started at 1:11 p.m. and was under control 23 minutes later.
The firetrucks couldn't enter the fire scene which was about 200 meters from the road because of the narrow road.
Firefighters had tointer connect their hoses to reach the area.
Floreta Ponce, a 65-year-old diabetic who cannot stand said that she was carried by her son-in-law Warlito Enero to safety.
Ponce said that she couldn’t walk for five years already and she was afraid she might be left behind.
Ponce said this was the third time that their house was razed by fire.
Their house was also destroyed during the 1999 and 2000 fire.
Another resident, Judith Coles, 50, said her husband, a security guard, was on duty when the fire broke out. Their house was one of those razed by the fire.
Fire investigators were still looking into what caused the fire but they were checking reports that the fire started in Genaro Luchaves house. /Correspondents Chito O. Aragon and UP Intern Apple Ta-as