600 Butuan residents now homeless in biggest blaze that hit city

by Ben Serrano – April 10, 2008

BUTUAN CITY- Some 600 individuals or about 300 families in this regional center of Caraga Region are now homeless after a three-hour fire razed down 200 houses most of them made of woods in Barangay Limaha Wednesday morning.

The blaze that started at about 10 a.m. allegedly in the nipa hut owned by Hedeilta Odchemar of Purok 7B spread to Puroks 7C, 8, 9, to 13 was considered to be the biggest fire that hit the city in recent years.

No one was hurt nor any casualties reported during the incident.

Acting City Fire Marshall Mario Palarca said they are still conducting to determine the cause of the fire.

Palarca claimed narrow roads leading to Brgy. Limaha made it hard for firefighters to immediately get to the area while winds fanned the flames.

LImaha Barangay Chairman Victor Abucejo said the homeless families were temporarily given shelter at the Limaha Elementary School.

The City Social Welfare Office, the DSWD in cooperation with Butuan City Mayor Democrito D. Plaza, II and Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino, II distributed relief goods and other goodies to the fire victims this morning.