The city government has mobilized its resources to help over 100 families displaced by a fire that hit Barangay Calarian on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Insp. Jacqueline Ortega, city fire marshal, said the blaze, which reached second alarm, broke out around 4:30 p.m. on Camellia Drive, Calarian. It was put out around 6:30 p.m.
Ortega said the fire started at the boarding house, owned by Crispin Quilala, and spread to nearby houses made of light and semi-concrete materials.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) reported on Thursday that 95 houses were razed while 17 were partially destroyed.
Ortega said they have yet to establish the origin of the fire and estimated the damage to property at PHP1.5 million.
A report from the CSWDO indicated that 116 families with 205 dependents were displaced during the incident.
CSWDO Chief Socorro Rojas said the number of affected families is expected to increase, as profiling continues at the Southcom Elementary School, which served as the temporary evacuation center for fire victims.
The CSWDO has distributed initial relief goods to include milk, coffee, canned goods, noodles, hot porridge, and blankets Wednesday night.
Rojas said a community kitchen was immediately set up to serve the affected families.
Source: Philippines News Agency