CAGAYAN de Oro City faced another fire today, February 23, in the Ilaya area of Barangay Carmen, near the Kagay-an Bridge. The fire started at around 2:50 pm, and firefighters arrived quickly to fight the flames.
Officer-in-Charge admin and fire arson investigator Debbie R. Mabulay reported that four houses were affected.
Mabulay said two houses were partially damaged, while the other two were two-story boarding houses that suffered serious damage.
“One of these boarding houses belonged to the Ragay family,” the fire investigator said.
Initial investigations report that an unplugged rice cooker may have caused the fire. The damage from this incident is estimated to be around P300,000. Firefighters were able to control the fire and put it out by 3:52 pm.
Many families were forced to leave their homes due to the fire and have been taken to Macanhan Elementary School for safety. This school is also housing victims from a previous fire earlier in the day.
Mabulay said that the first fire broke out in Barangay Camaman-an, followed by a second fire in Divisoria, and now this latest incident in Barangay Carmen.
The community is on edge as these incidents happen in quick succession, according to Mabulay.
Local officials are urging residents to be careful and check their appliances to prevent more fires. They are also coordinating with social services to help those who have lost their homes.
The city’s fire department is now investigating further to ensure that safety measures are improved. They are reminding everyone to be vigilant and report any signs of danger.
