Basak San Nicolas Ravage by Fire

CEBU CITY - More than four hundred fifty individuals, from almost one hundred sixty families were left homeless due to a fire in Sitio Lupa, Barangay Basak San Nicolas in Cebu City, Tuesday.

The fire was raised to general alarm with more than twenty firetrucks responding to the alarm.

Firefighters received the fire alarm around 2:28 p.m. and got the fire under control an hour after.

No casualties were reported.

Three million pesos is the estimated damage of the fire as all structures were made of light materials.

According to Cebu City Fire Marshall Victor Vibares, the fire started in the house of Leonora Tabor, 65 years old, where allegedly five of her grandchildren played with matches.

Tabor however denied the allegation and said that her grandchildren were watching television when the fire occurred.

"No, I saw the fire, it started in our neighbor's house, " Leonora said in the vernacular.

She alleged that the fire started from the house of her neighbor, Pepe Pulleros.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Alikasem Espinola, investigator, said that poor crowd control, strong winds and small alleys could partly be blamed why the fire lasted for an hour.

As of posting, all fire victims were evacuated to Barangay Brotherhood basketball gym.

Councilor Gerry Carillo of Cebu City said that the council will pass a resolution declaring Barangay San Nicolas under a state of calamity so that calamity funds could be released.

"We shall give them all the assistance than we can offer," said Carillo.

Barangay Chairman George Rama also said that all affected families would receive P2,000 each from the funds of the barangay.