SPARK from an electric post in Sitio Superior, Barangay Looc, Mandaue City caused the evening fire on December 6, 2020, residents said.
The fire, which started at 10 p.m. on Dec. 6, was raised to the fourth alarm and was declared fire out at 2:49 a.m of Dec. 7.
Based on the initial report of Barangay Looc Captain Allan Siazon, the fire destroyed 96 houses and left about 120 families or 574 individuals homeless.
Damage was estimated at P1.4 million.
In an interview, resident Jean Jayag, 31, said they saw a spark at an electric post near her cousin's house. The spark caught a curtain which they believed was the reason the fire spread quickly.
During the initial investigation, SFO2 Edgar Vergara, fire investigator at the Mandaue City Fire Station, said the cause of the fire was traced to electrical overload since Jayag said the lights flickered before the electric post started to spark.
Vergara said that since it is the holiday season, residents have put up Christmas lights and decors and connected these to the electric post, thus causing the electrical overload.
Jayag said they could have put out the fire if only they had water.
"Our problem is that we don't have water. Where will get water to douse the fire when even our canals are dried up," said Jayag in Cebuano.
Jayag said she was not able to save belongings from their house and only made sure their family members got out of their house safely.
The fire victims are temporarily housed at the Barangay Looc Gym and at the Cesar Cabahug Elementary School.
Siazon said some residents opted to stay in their homes so they could look after their belongings.
He, however, encouraged the fire victims to go to the gym to register to better facilitate the giving of assistance.
Staff of the City Social Welfare and Services have distributed hot meals and starter relief packs with essentials to around 103 families affected by the fire.
Vergara, on the other hand, reminded the public to always be mindful of their Christmas lights and other decors and to unplug these and their home appliances when not in use. (KFD)