At least 20 families were displaced after their houses were razed by fire in Barangay 76-A, Davao City around midnight on Wednesday, December 3, 2024.

According to Mildred Dalman, the fire started at the room of her son, but no one was there when the fire broke out. They dismissed the possibility that the fire was caused by a candle.

“Dili man mi nagsindi og kandila kay cellphone, mag-asawa ra man sila, wala man sila’y bata, naa man sa akoa,” Dalman said.

Another resident said the fire may have been caused by the problem in the power line.

“Katong nanimaho siya og murag nasunog nga wire ba tungod sa sige’g brown out, palong, brownout na pud, siga. Pag-andar sa kuryente, alas dose man to, tulog nami tanan. Nakamatngon nalang mi kay naa man mga silingan nishagit nga sunog mao to among gipanaog tanan bata,” a resident, John Michael Polinar, said.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still investigating the incident.

According to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), six houses were destroyed while two were damaged.

Damage to property reached more than P1.7 million.

The families affected are staying temporarily at the Kasilac gymnasium.

“Maayo na lang kay miabot ang taga CSWDO, nagdala og paluto sab. Naghatag sab ako diri og community cooker nga magluto para sa ilang paniudto. Mao na ang among inisyal nga tabang nga gihatag namo,” Barangay Chairman, Robert Olanolan, said.