AT LEAST one person was killed, while two others were hurt in one of three fires that occurred in Cebu City on Thursday, March 4, 2021.
At 3 p.m., Cebu City firefighters responded to a fire in Sitio Laguna in Brgy. Bulacao where a 28-year-old woman with a mental disability was killed.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Novo Erana said they received the alarm at 3:02 p.m. Fire fighters controlled the fire at 3:22 p.m. and eventually put it out seven minutes later.
As firefighters investigated the site of the blaze, they found the remains of Maris Bayaton, 28.
Erana said Bayaton was reportedly sleeping on the second floor of her house when the fire started.
Bayaton’s relatives attempted to rescue her but failed to do so due to the increasing size of the blaze.
Melanie Bayaton, the victim’s older sister, said she and their mother were at their neighbor’s house while the younger Bayaton was left at their house to sleep.
They rushed home after one of her siblings shouted that their house was on fire.
Two other residents, Joshua Anthony Tembravilla and fire volunteer Jovito Dumali Jr., were hurt during the fire.
The fire, which destroyed three houses, caused P200,000 worth of damage.
Two separate fires also occurred in barangays Sto. Niño and Banilad on the same day. (BBT / JKV)