A man was hurt in a fire of still unknown origin that destroyed residential homes and a warehouse in Barangay Bantayan in Dumaguete City on Tuesday, May 9.
An initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said they received a callout at around 12:35 p.m. regarding the fire.
City fire marshal, Chief Insp. Marlon Chomling, said the blaze spread so fast and was difficult to contain due to the presence of highly flammable materials such as paint and thinner.
“We had to call in help from the other fire stations and private volunteer groups and used foam to douse the fire as it would only get bigger with water,” he said.
Initially, at least three houses and one commercial building, separately owned by members of the Chuang family, were damaged by the fire.
Chomling said the fire alarm reached third level by 12:50 p.m. as the fire would rekindle again and again but the blaze was placed under control by around 2:15 p.m.
The injured, a certain Steve Michael, 48, suffered a first-degree burn on his forehead and second-degree burns on his left arm and foot.
Chomling said residents of Casa Esperanza, a temporary shelter for abused women and children, and some nearby houses were evacuated to safer ground.
The estimated cost of damage has yet to be determined.*PNA