Some PHP4 million worth of property went up in smoke while one was injured in a fire that hit a slum area in this city early Wednesday, a Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) official said.
Chief Insp. Jacqueline Ortega, Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) marshal, said the fire broke out around 1:05 a.m. in Purok 3B, Sitio Dacon, Barangay Recodo, this city.
Injured was Asari Mukaram, 35, who suffered a laceration on his left leg, while trying to salvage their belongings during the blaze.
Ortega said initial investigation showed that the fire came from an unattended lighted candle at the house of one Akhad Asta.
The fire rapidly spread and engulfed the nearby houses, most of which were made of light materials.
Ortega said that Otro Andag, 45, one of the fire victims, informed the case investigator that they have no electricity for the past two days after inclement weather snapped a power cable in the community.
“More of less 400 residential houses were destroyed in the fire that reached second alarm,” Ortega said.
She said the fire was placed under control around 3:30 a.m. and was declared fire out around 4:30 a.m.
Meanwhile, the city government has mobilized its resources to provide assistance to the fire victims who are temporarily sheltered at the covered court of Barangay Recodo.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has immediately provided the fire victims with food packs, hygiene kits, and other relief items.
Source: Philippines News Agency