More than 100 families were displaced by a fire that hit a residential area in Barangay 23-C, Davao City on Monday, September 8, 2025.

The fire broke out at past 2 a.m. and was put out hours later around 6 a.m.

A survivor said the fire spread quickly and firefighters reportedly ran out of water.

“Pagresponde sa bombero nakaresponde man sila dayon… ang problema lang, pag-abot nila diri, nahutdan gyud sila og tubig ba… kami pay nagbutang og tubig sa ilang tangke para mapuno… paspas gyud kaayo, ma’am… tuyok man gud ang kalayo,” resident Sandy Baldesco said.

“Nasa tabi lang po ng bahay namin kaya wala po kaming nadalang gamit po namin… paggising po namin, malala na po ang apoy, di po namin alam kung pano po kami magsisimula,” another resident affected, Namra Limgas, added.

Authorities said around 60 houses were affected.

The damage was estimated at P700,000.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still investigating the cause.

BFP said one of the challenges faced by firefighters was the vehicles parked along the road in the area.

“Kaya masulod sa truck unta kaso dunay mga naka-park nga sikad sa dalan, dunay naka-park nga sakyanan dira pa na-clear ang mga sakyanan katong nidako na ang kalayo,” Davao City Fire District Public Information Office, Fire Senior Inspector Russel Jake Marañon, said.

BFP also explained the protocols in extinguishing fires after some residents reportedly grabbed their fire hose and directed the water toward their burning houses.

“Naa ta’y ginatawag nga mga cover exposure, mga ingon anang system ba unya gapangilog ang mga tao sa hose, di maka-focus ang mga bombero kay ilugon sa tao kay ilahang ibisbis… i-kuan sa ilang panimalay,” Marañon added.

Personnel of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) continue to assess and validate the number of families affected.

Those residents were given immediate assistance and personnel of the City Health Office were also deployed to check their health condition.

“As of this time, naa tay estimated lang na final official data naa tay 111 families we are still counting kasi ongoing pa ang interview. Naa tay P20,000 for house owner; P15,000 and then the P10,000 so ingon ana ang apportioning of the financial assistance, apart sa food and non-food nato,” CSWDO Senior Welfare Officer, Gina Molon, said.