BACOOR CITY, Cavite – An estimated 2,000 persons lost their homes in a fire allegedly caused by children playing matches in Barangay Maliksi III here Wednesday.
Supt. Christopher F. Olazo, Bacoor police chief, and fire marshal Supt. Robert M. Pacis said the fire in the coastal barangay started at around 3 p.m.
Pacis said the fire started at the house occupied by one Raffy Ola where children were seen playing matches in the vicinity before it started.
The fire reached the fifth alarm and was put out at past 8 p.m. Nobody was reported killed or injured in the fire.
Some 600 houses occupied by 475 families or 2,153 persons mostly made of light materials were razed in the fire put out by at least 30 fire trucks.
Pacis said firefighters had difficulty putting out the fire due to the small alleys in the area.
Some fire victims were taken to the Maliksi Elementary School compound while others stayed at their relatives or friends’ houses.
It was one of the biggest fires that struck Cavite this year.
The city government under Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla has sought assistance for the fire victims. The victims need food, water, toiletries, blankets, and other personal necessities.
A donation booth was put up at the Bacoor Government Center.
Damage to properties in the fire is yet to be determined. (ANTHONY GIRON)