More than 1,200 houses razed by fire in two barangays
THE DAVAO City Fire Station estimated about P9 million in damage caused by a massive fire that gobbled around 1,000 houses in Purok 8A, Barangay 21-C and Brgy 22 Piapi, around one in the afternoon of Feb. 25 at around 1:15 p.m.
Senior Fire Inspector 4 Ramil Gillado, the Davao City Fire District Station spokesperson, said the fire started at the house of Ricky Gera Gantalao, 40, in Barangay 21-C before it quickly spread to the neighboring village.
The station received a distress call around 1:06
Immediately, firefighters from Central Fire, Bangoy, S.I.R. in Matina, Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), Buhangin, and Talomo firetrucks were dispatched when the level reached the fourth alarm.
The fire was declared under control right before 2 p.m.
However, it took more than four hours before the firefighters put off the fire and started leaving the site around 5:21 p.m.
“Medyo nag lisod ta sa maneuvering ug positioning sa mga nagresponde nga fire trucks tungod sa kagamay sa dalan piot kaayo (We faced difficulty in maneuvering and positioning the responding fire trucks due to the narrow roads),” Gillado said.
Meanwhile, a fire truck from Sasa Fire Station figured in an accident en route to help put out the massive fire in Barangay 21-C.
The firefighters onboard the truck were immediately rescued and are now safe.
For now, individuals affected by the fire are currently at the evacuation center. The city government has also prepared the initial assistance they will receive.
Earlier, Gillado said the recent fire incidents in the city were caused by electrical short-circuit, open fire due to cooking and playing matches, and unattended overheated electrical appliances.
He said 531 fire incidents happened in the whole year of 2022, where the estimated damage to property reached P63-Million and recorded three fatalities and nine injured. The two top areas of fire incidents include residential areas and rubbish and grass fires.
Flashflood victims get aid
Meanwhile, at least a thousand families affected by the flash flood on Feb. 21 have received relief assistance from the Office of the 1st Congressional District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte.
In a statement Friday, the lawmaker’s office said emergency food packs, hot porridge, and breakfast are being provided to the flood victims in the eight barangays affected from Feb. 22 until they return home.
The affected barangays are 2-A, 5-A, 8-A, 9-A, 10-A, 19-B, Matina Gravahan and Maa.
On Tuesday evening, authorities ordered an evacuation in the eight low-lying villages following a heavy rainstorm.
The weather disturbance also caused the water levels of five rivers here to rise, forcing around 1,093 families or 4,300 individuals to leave their houses.
“The 1st congressional district office assured that all victims were given appropriate assistance,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said not a single person was reported injured or missing in the floods. (with PNA report)
