ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews/23 January)— A massive fire destroyed 80 houses Thursday , January 22, leaving some 110 families and 173 individuals homeless.
The cause of the fire, which broke out at around 3 PM in Purok 10-A, Barangay Saray, has not been determined but according to Evelyn Madrio, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, the fire affected 80 structures, 63 of which were totally damaged and 17 partially damaged.
Niezsche T. Largo, Saray village chairperson, said the affected individuals were provided food packs and meals from the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office mobile kitchen. Medical teams from the City Health Office also provided assistance, specifically for senior citizens with health concerns.
“The Incident Command Center was established at Saray Barangay gymnasium at Purok 4 where the evacuees were given assistance,” Largo said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Central Station, led by City Fire Marshal Fire Supt. Jack M. Bigwil and Chief Investigator Fire Officer 4 Julian Tangub Jr., deployed and supervised the firefighting teams that contained the blaze.
Tangub said “the fire trucks and fire fighting teams from Bacolod, Kauswagan, Maigo and Baloi, Lanao del Norte, Lugait and Manticao, Misamis Oriental arrived at the fire scene.”
“We penetrated the area and cleared the debris and contained the fire that still build up covered by debris,” Tangub added.
Bigwil declared the fire out at 10:53 p.m. Thursday. Tangub reported that six people were injured in the incident.
“Based on witnesses account, the BFP identified the residence of Josefina Rivera as the alleged origin of fire,” Tangub said. Investigators placed the estimated damage at 675,000 pesos.
Police Major Zandrex Panolong, spokesperson for the Iligan City Police Office, said “police personnel were deployed and secured the area to prevent looting and safety of fire fighting team and responders.”
Mayor Frederick W. Siao has directed city departments to address the immediate needs and concerns of the affected residents. (Richel V. Umel/ MindaNews)
