Ben Madilynn
TWO separate fires broke out minutes apart in different barangays in Lapu-Lapu City on Friday morning, May 30, 2025, prompting multi-alarm responses from fire stations across Cebu and leaving one person injured.
The fires left over 50 families homeless.
The first incident was reported at 9:50 a.m. in Barangay Basak Iba, where flames engulfed a residential area.
Firefighters from the Lapu-Lapu City Fire District and Gun-ob Fire Station were first on the scene. They were later joined by disaster responders from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire escalated rapidly. Lapu-Lapu City Fire District Supt. Tito Purgatorio raised a first alarm at 9:53 a.m. and escalated it to a fourth alarm by 10:06 a.m.
The blaze was declared under control at 10:59 a.m. and fire out at 11:41 a.m.
It destroyed 19 houses and partially damaged three others, affecting 25 families, or about 170 individuals. No injuries or fatalities were reported in this incident.
Just 16 minutes later, at 10:06 a.m., another fire broke out in Purok Lubi, 2nd Street, Barangay Canjulao, less than two kilometers from the first blaze.
Firefighters from the Babag Fire Station responded within three minutes.
The fire involved a residential structure owned by Johanne Ymbong.
Fire officials raised a second alarm upon arrival and escalated it to third and fourth alarms within 20 minutes due to the fire’s intensity.
The fire was placed under control by 10:59 a.m. and declared fire out at 11:19 a.m.
It destroyed 28 houses and partially damaged three more. Twenty-seven families, or about 150 people including four renter households, were displaced.
One person, 40-year-old Manuel Ymbong, sustained minor burns and was treated on-site. No fatalities were recorded.
Responders included auxiliary units from Consolacion, Canduman, Cebu City, San Nicolas and San Antonio.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes of both fires and the total amount of damage. City officials are providing assistance to the displaced families.
Authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, especially as high summer temperatures and increased electrical loads raise the risk of fires. / CAV
Source: 370 homeless from 2 fires
