Fire hits populated area in Kalibo

After the fire, a teenager watches closely on damaged houses in Purok 2 in C. Laserna area in Kalibo, Aklan while mopping-up operation of the Bureau of Fire Protection is ongoing / PHOTO BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

 BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

(Update) Some 500 residents were homeless after a fire razed around 100 houses in a residential area in Kalibo, Aklan resulting in undetermined damage on Friday afternoon.

The fire engulfed Purok 2, a heavily populated C. Laserna area in Barangay Poblacion, at around 4:30 p.m. The fire zone with narrow and crowded streets is located about 200 meters from Kalibo Pastrana Park.

 

Fire spread quickly to houses in the area  as six fire trucks of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) helped in putting the blaze. 

The fire which raged across 2,000 square meters area near the Aklan River destroyed homes made mostly of light materials with only the concrete parts of the houses surviving an hour blaze. 

Some residents fled, if not all, with their belongings towards the riverbank and open areas for safety. 

Kadamay-Aklan chairperson Kim-Sin Tugna said close to 100 houses were burned to the ground by fire, including his house.

Firefighters from BFP-Kalibo, Altavas, Numancia, Balete and New Washington and volunteer groups conducted mopping-up operations in the area after the fire was placed under control at around 5:20 p.m. 

BFP-Kalibo Fire Inspector Donnie Torre said they are still investigating the cause of the fire as well as the extent of damage to property, but according to witnesses, the fire allegedly triggered in one of the houses due to faulty service drop wire.

No casualties were reported in the fire and only a few injuries. Early estimates put the damage at P2-million.

Earlier, BFP said C. Laserna area is identified as one of the fire-prone areas in Kalibo. 

A PLEA FOR HELP FOR FIRE VICTIMS

Kalibo civil defense officer Terence June Toriano said fire evacuees were given immediate relief in two evacuation centers in Kalibo Magsaysay Park and Aklan Trade Hall in Capitol Site.

Kalibo mayor William Lachica said evacuation centers were  opened to families affected by fire in interior C. Laserna. So far, sixty-seven families  were sheltering at the newly-built evacuation center in Kalibo Magsaysay Park. 

Lachica said donations, in cash or in kind, also kept pouring in from private individuals to assist the fire victims.

Meanwhile, Provincial Social Welfare Officer Evangelina Gallega said they will also extend aid to the victims of the fire. The victims, numbering 183 residents, are now in Aklan Trade Hall evacuation center. 

Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores said the provincial government will provide financial assistance and shelter kits to fire victims. 

Philippine National Red Cross-Aklan and volunteers also extended sleeping items to fire victims.