Fire razes 50 houses in Cotabato City

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A fire razed some 50 houses made of light materials at Purok Islam in Barangay Poblacion-Dos here early Wednesday afternoon. City officials said fire trucks had trouble penetrating the fire scene near Doña Theresa Street, College Area, due to narrow roads. The area is considered a place of “squatters." The fire started at around 12:27 p.m. and after 25 minutes it was confined and controlled. It was finally fired out at exactly 1:30 p.m., said Chief Inspector Adam Ali Guiamad, the city fire marshal. Guiamad said two firefighters were slightly injured while fighting the blaze, but none of the residents were reported hurt. Residents in nearby homes were briefly evacuated, among them wards of Bahay Maria, a home for the aged built in late ‘90s by the Archdiocese of Cotabato. Initial investigation showed that the fire started at the house of a man known as Kulot Bacote. The cost of damage was still undetermined. Guiamad said the blaze was placed under control with big help from the Cotabato Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade, Sultan Kudarat Fire Station, and the Parang Fire Station in Maguindanao. -GMANews.TV