Hundreds of thousands of pesos worth of property went up in smoke when fire engulfed a densely populated area and gutted down more than 30 houses, while one person was injured, at about 11 a.m. yesterday at Sitio Canday-ong, Barangay Calindagan, in Dumaguete City.

Reported injured in the blaze was Marietta Mascardo, of legal age, who was trying to salvage some of her property, arson investigators said. The conflagration quickly spread to nearby houses mostly made of light materials, including that of Dumaguete Councilor Nelson Patrimonio, because of strong winds.

Initial investigation disclosed that the fire came from the residence of the Mascardos, Senior Fire Officer 2 Cristino Bato, said.

Canday-ong Barangay Kagawad Gemma Villaflores who lives nearby, initiated the bayanihan activity, encouraging neighbors to help out put out the fire.

People in the area helped, using water from the canal and by destroying some water connections of the Dumaguete City Water District. Firefighting efforts, however, were hampered due to the inability of fire trucks to get nearer the fire scene.

Mayor Agustin Perdices and city administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. went to the site.

Dumalag instructed City Social Workers personnel to extend assistance to the victims.*JG/RG

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