CAMP GEN. PANTALEON GARCIA, IMUS, Cavite – Some 500 families were rendered homeless before dawn Monday in a three-hour fire that struck coastal Wawa I, Barangay Zapote V, Bacoor City, which has been on lockdown due to the coronavirus diseases 2019 outbreak.
It was the biggest fire in Cavite province this March, the Fire Prevention Month.
City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla reported that the fire started at about 2 a.m. and was declared fire out at 5 a.m. Monday.
“We have an estimated 500 families,” Revilla said, referring to the number of fire victims.
Five hundred families are equivalent, approximately between 2,500 and 3,000 individuals. The police and fire departments have yet to render a report as to the fire cause and cost.
The officials said that the fire happened at an informal settler area.
Sources in the area said that the fire may have been caused by a faulty electrical wiring or unattended lit candle.
The power consumption in the area may have been overloaded as most people were in their homes due to the lockdown.
Some house occupants at the site also used lit candles to light up their houses.
A Disaster and Risk Reduction Management team and other concerned local government personnel responded to the scene to assist the fire victims.
Revilla, citing initial reports, said that there was no reported fire casualty.
“The victims were given a hot meal initially at a nearby school area, I will be calling a meeting soon to set up the plans for the victims, particularly their relocation site, at this time of crisis,” the mayor said. Bacoor was placed on lockdown last March 20 as authorities reported at least three COVID-19 positive cases in the turf. (Anthony Giron)