A fire hit 34 houses in a densely populated area leaving 114 residents homeless and a 93-year-old injured in Sitio Dacutan Dacu, Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, at 1:40 a.m. Thursday, September 14.
Firefighters had difficulty putting out the blaze as there was only a narrow footwalk leading to the scene of the fire, Senior Inspector Jovelyn Zamar, Silay City fire marshal, said.
Residents were rushing out carrying their belongings as firefighters on foot were dragging their hoses through the narrow pathway to reach the site, she said.
Firefighters from neighboring local government units assisted the Silay Bureau of Fire Protection in putting out the blaze.
Last year a fire also hit the same area. They are hoping proper zoning is observed so that there is a road wide enough for responding fire trucks to enter, Zamar said.
Silay Mayor Joedith Gallego said 26 houses were destroyed and eight were damaged by the fire that started at 1:40 a.m. and ended at 3:53 a.m. Thursday.
There are 35 families with 114 members displaced, he said.
Injured was Raquel del Rosario, 93, who sustained multiple abrasions on her right arm, Zamar said.
Gallego said the city government is providing P15,000 in assistance for each house destroyed and P10,000 for each damaged house.
The city government has also provided the fire victims with food packs, hygiene kits, and hot soup and meals, he said.
The Silay BFP estimated the damage at P375,000.
Airport security guard Eli Ontanillas said he was only able to salvage the fire-damaged roofing of his house. The roofing was purchased by a scrap dealer for only P126 after the fire, he said.
Emma Magapan said she went to Escalante to sell “ginamos” and when she returned nothing was left of her home and belongings. Magapan said she lived alone and does not know how she will be able to afford to rebuild a new home.
Residents of Sitio Dacutan Dacu were searching for belongings to salvage after the fire.
Late Thursday afternoon a fire also hit a poultry in Purok Balogo, Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City*