The search is ongoing for minor children who according to eyewitnesses inadvertently started the big fire in Barangays 21-C, 22-C, and 23-C on Saturday.
According to Senior Fire Officer 4 Ramil Gillado, one of the angles that they are looking at in the investigation are some minors who were setting fire to cables and retrieve the copper and sell them.
“Sulti sa naka witness, prior sa sunog ang mga bata nagsunog ug wires para kuhaan ug copper ug ibaligya,” Gillado said in a phone interview.
Gillado said an investigation is being conducted to validate the information that the BFP-Davao has obtained with regards to the children.
The recent fire was one of the biggest in Davao City, which caused significant damage.
“Daghan ang naugdaw na mga balay kay aside na kusog ang hangin kay pabor man to kay duol sa dagat, dikit-dikit ang balay ug kasagaran pud made of light materials ang mga balay maong paspas ang pagkalat sa kalayo,” Gillado said.
He also said that another factor was the responding firetrucks have difficulty maneuvering because of the very limited road access.
“Maong dili ma-posisyon ug tarong ang firetruck aron maatangan unta nato ang kalayo aron dili na mukatag pa sa laing areas,” he said.
Meantime, the fire victims from the three barangays received aid from the Office of First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte.
Rep. Duterte immediately extended assistance to the victims. The First Congressional District office staff members distributed emergency food packs the following day, February 26, to the victims who are currently housed at Barangay 21-C Gymnasium in Piapi Boulevard. Each family will also receive hot meals for five days.
