Huge fire hit Mandaue City Cebu

A residential fire broke out in two sitios (sub-villages) in Barangay Looc, Mandaue City below a portion of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge (first bridge) in Cebu at 12:12 p.m. on March 12, 2024. The fire hit Sitio UTB (Under the Bridge) and Sitio Bantayan sa Hari. It was raised reportedly to second alarm at 12:15 p.m., to third alarm at 12:22 p.m., and was placed under control at 12:42 p.m. The fire affected around 300 houses, according to Senior Fire Officer Leo Andicoy, investigator, of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Mandaue City. Initial assessment on damages was estimated at P1.25 million, Andicoy added. Based on a livestream report of DYSS Super Radyo GMA, vehicles parked in the area such as tricycles, motorcycles, and a truck were among the properties destroyed. It was also observed that a portion of the bridge’s under-part was scorched where most of the houses burned were located. Fire-out was declared at around 2 p.m The cause of the fire is yet under investigation, however residents surmised that someone might have been preparing lunch as it was about noontime when the incident happened, and left it unattended. As of posting time, the affected residents sought temporary shelter at the barangay gymnasium.