P20-M in property hit by Boracay fire - BFP

                                                       PHOTO BY BORACAY ACTION GROUP

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Some P20-million worth of properties were destroyed by fire on Wednesday in Boracay Island, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said. 

Fire Officer III Franklin Arubang, BFP-Boracay chief arson investigator, said they are still investigating the cause of fire the hit the busy Talipapa Bukid. The fire started at 2:50 p.m. and was declared under control at 4:50 p.m. 

The two-hour blaze was fire out at around 7:10 a.m. the following day. 

BFP also reported that a 48-year old woman suffered first-degree burn when the fire hit the 30,000 square meters Talipapa Bukid in Sitio Manggayad in Manoc-Manoc. No casualties were recorded by BFP-Boracay. 

Arubang said the BFP has yet to determine the exact number of houses damaged by fire in Talipapa Bukid, a public market in a hilly portion along the main road of Manoc-Manoc. 

"Wala namang hotels or resorts na nasunog, mga boarding houses halos ang nasunog," he added. 

In 2004, the old public market near boat station 3 was razed by fire. The public market was then transferred in the present site which is commonly known today as Talipapa Bukid. 

Arubang said five fire trucks, a boom truck and water tankers of Boracay Action Group, BFP Boracay, ShangriLa Resort, Boracay Water Sewerage Services and Boracay Tubi System and the Boracay Fire Rescue Ambulance Volunteers (BFRAV) of the Boracay Action Team’s First Responder responded to the fire call.

After the fire was raised to general alarm, BFP personnel from Kalibo, Ibajay, Numancia also rushed to the fire scene to assist the fire fighters in Boracay. 

For his part, BFP-Boracay chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza said the area where the fire originated has been identified by arson investigators. 

"Mga 3 a.m. Thursday nag-stop ang mopping out operations kag nagpadayon this morning sa area. Nagsustenir gid ang mga fire volunteers naton sa isla sa pagtapna sang sunog," he said. 

“Gin cordoned ang lugar sang origin sang fire kay kadamo sang baga sa area kag indi maabot sang hose sang fire truck. Makuha kami sample didto kag i-submit sa laboratory. This time, wala pa reported na patay sa sunog or missing persons. Dira lang sa entrada sang Talipapa Bukid nakasaka ang BFP fire trucks.”

Meanwhile, around 100 fire victims were evacuated at Manoc-Manoc covered court after the blaze destroyed the houses and market stalls in Talipapa Bukid. 

Food, used clothings, relief and medical assistance were extended by the Philippine National Red Cross, Manoc-Manoc barangay council and the Office of the Municipal Mayor, according to Manoc-Manoc barangay captain Abram Sualog in an interview. 

"Mga 30 persons na lang naiwan sa evacuation center dahil ang ibang evacuees doon na tumuloy kaninang umaga sa mga kaibigan nila dito rin sa Boracay. Karamihan sa mga biktima ay mga empleyado ng mga resorts," he said. 

Sualog estimated the number of houses, mostly boarding houses made of light to semi-light materials burned to the ground by the fire, to 100.  Some 500 to 600 residents were also affected by fire, he said.