At least 100 houses were razed in a fire at the boundary of Barangays Opao and Looc in Mandaue City.

The fire is believed to have started in a house where a boy was cooking rice.

The fire broke out at 5:23 p.m. on January 24, 2025 in Sitio Pokang, otherwise known as Oploc (a contraction of Barangays Opao and Looc), and in Purok Orchids, Barangay Opao.

The fire spread quickly to neighboring houses.

In a fire investigation, it was learned that a 10-year-old boy who was alone in the house at that time was cooking rice. The boy used a stove fueled by butane. However, the house caught fire when the flames of the stove went close enough to the canister and heated it up.

“Iya pa unta gitabang ang kayo, looy kaayo akong anak, mao to ingon niya wa kuno niya natabang, ‘init kaayo ang kayo ma, wala nako tuyoa ma ako pa gipatay ang kayo ma,’ sige’g hilak siya nako, [akong giingnan] sagda-i lang wa man na nimo tuyoa,” the mother of the child said.

According to Fire Supt. Arnel Abella, Mandaue City Fire Office marshal, strong winds that day became a factor on the quick spread of the fire.

“Kusog kaayo ang hangin, isa sa factor ngano nidako siya, but pasalamat ta paspas atong response, daghan pod tag balay nga na-save even though sikitsikit siya," Supt. Abella said.

A 62-year-old woman was rushed to the ospital after she sustained an injury, but she succumbed to a heart attack hours after.

The fire victims sought temporary shelter in the gyms of the two affected barangays.

Based on data from the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, 51 houses were destroyed in Opao, while 49 in Looc. One house was burned partially.

At least 126 families or 477 individuals were affected by the fire.

In a session of the City Council, the fire incident was part of the discussion.

The Council thanked the help of fire personnel and volunteers in controlling the fire.

Assistance for theh fire victims from the Local Government Unit of Mandaue City has been pledged.

Further, the declaration of a state of calamity would come from the barangay.

"The barangay declaration, sila mismo sa barangay ang modeclare, will be enough to ask for financial help,” said Mandaue City Councilor Jen del Mar.

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, a house was destroyed by a fire in the upland barangay of Babag evening on January 25, 2025.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by a charged Bluetooth speaker.

The owner of the house said that the speaker was power-charged while he was on his way to work.  However, his wife and mother went out of the house to buy viand.

Neighbors came to respond, but the fire spread rapidly. 

The fire also destroyed two motorcycle units.

“Wa may laing hinungdan, ang akong nabiyaan didto ra man gyud. Wala ko nagluto,” Arnel Gabutero, the owner of the house, said.

As for his wife, Evelyn Gabutero, she said it took less than five minutes for the fire to raze the house to the ground.

“Wa na ko kaabot diri, di na man maduol, naay mga tawo nitabang ba [pero] grabe gyud kapaspas sa kayo, grabe gyud, ambot layo ra five (5) minutes uy, dali ra kaayo,” Evelyn said.