More or less 40 houses were razed to the ground after a fire hit the residential area at Unity Drive in Barangay Tetuan shortly after 3pm Friday, September 19. No one was reported hurt in the incident.

Mayor Khymer Olaso rushed to the area to help facilitate response, along with Councilor BG Guingona and the Tetuan Barangay Council led by Chairperson Richard Mariano.

The mayor has directed City Social Welfare and Development Officer (CSWDO) Socorro Rojas to expedite assessment and profiling, and thereafter provide the necessary assistance to the affected families.

The affected families are temporarily housed at the Tetuan Central School gym.

The fire broke out at 3:18pm and escalated to second alarm at 3:22pm. Fire out was declared after more than four hours.

Resources from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office were dispatched to augment and support fire fighters from the City Fire Department and nearby fire stations, and fire brigades and volunteers.

Vice Mayor Beng Climaco and Councilor CJ Dalipe likewise responded to the incident.

Fire probers from the Bureau of Fire Protection are investigating on the cause of the incident as well as the extent of damage. (with reports from Bernadeth Lazaro) (photo credits: Yoshi Rodriguez/ Roselyn Bunot)