Boracay fire razes Talipapa Bukid

                                                                                                                                            PHOTOS BORACAY INFORMER

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A two-hour blaze destroyed houses and commercial stores in Boracay Island on Wednesday afternoon.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Boracay chief Fire Inspector Stephen Jardeleza said fire started at around 2:50 p.m. in the heavily populated public market in Sitio Manggayad, Barangay Manoc-Manoc. 

BFP declared the fire under control at 4:50 p.m. 

The BFP has yet to determine the cause of the fire but had identified the area where the fire originated. Investigators are also still determining the extent of damage to property.

There were five persons reported injured in the fire, which quickly spread as strong winds fanned the flames in stalls and boarding houses made of light materials. 

“Padayon ang mopping out operations. Na-identify na ang lugar kaso ang owner sang balay wala pa nainterview sang BFP. I-determine pa namon ang dahilan sang sunog,” Jardeleza said in an interview over Bombo Radyo Kalibo. 

Jardeleza said more than 100 houses and commercial stores in the market, commonly known as Talipapa Bukid were burned by the blaze.

“Napasaka ang fire trucks sa ibabaw kag gina-amat amat na gina-abot ang area sang sunog sa Talipapa Bukid. Indi gin halos makaa-abot ang hose kag nagahina ang kapasidad sang bomba  ng fire truck dahil  elevated kag mataas ang lugar, mga 150 feet ang elevation sang nasunugan sa main road. Gin tinguha gid namon na maapula ang kalayo,” added Jardeleza.

BFP said five fire trucks and a boom truck of BFP-Boracay, Boracay Action Group (BAG) and a private resort and volunteer fire fighters rushed to the fire scene. BFP-Kalibo fire truck and personnel in the capital town of Kalibo also responded to the fire incident.

The fire has reached the general alarm as firefighters encountered the lack of fire hydrants or far away from the fire scene. Some fire trucks also could not penetrate the area immediately due to narrow roads.

Many residents also scampered to safety across the main road and nearby resorts, some of them carried their belongings they could save during the blaze.

“Wala katabok ang fire truck sang BFP-Kalibo kay unas subong. May mga nasamad na kami na fire truck sang BFP, ang motor sang ANOS nag-aberya. Wala sang fire hydrants kag makitid ang area, mga 100 meters away sa main road ang pinakalapit na fire hydrants,” Jardeleza said.

Meanwhile, fire victims were evacuated at Barangay Manoc-Manoc covered court.  Local officials and non-government organizations had extended assistance to affected families, a radio report said.