Homeless for the Holidays

The New Year looks bleak for about 60 families. Fire hit a densely populated residential area here on Christmas Eve and left them homeless.
More or less 50 houses and business establishments were damaged by the blaze along the main road in Sitio Ambulong, Barangay Manoc-manoc.
Most of the damaged houses were made of light materials.
The affected residents spent Christmas Day – and most likely the New Year, too – at an evacuation center in Barangay Manoc-manoc.
They were relying on food packs, shelter assistance and water supply from the municipal government of Malay, Aklan.
A Muslim community was also affected. Its mosque was partially damaged.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) estimated the damage at P10 million.
BFP’s Special Fire Protection Unit investigators were still trying to determine the cause and the extent of damage as of press time.
No one was reported dead or missing but 10 people — seven men and three women — sustained second-degree burns, lacerations and abrasions.
Sixty-four children were among the displaced.
The fire started at 10:50 a.m. Firefighters declared a “fire out” at 2:45 p.m.
Personnel from the BFP’s Special Fire Protection Unit, Boracay Action Group, Shangri-La Boracay, Boracay Tubi System, Boracay Island Water Company, and the Boracay Fire Rescue and Ambulance Volunteers helped put out the blaze.
Among the business establishments hit were Alevir’s Trading and Sespene Trading.
The Boracay Tourist Assistance Center rerouted the vehicular traffic from the main road to the circumferential road.
The fire also interrupted the electrical power service in the island resort.
Eight houses from the Muslim community were struck by the fire, according to Muamar Faisal Arumpac, president of the Boracay Muslim Community Association.
“The local government of Malay led by Mayor John Yap promised support for the Muslim community,” said Faisal who met with Yap hours after the fire.
Some of the Muslims whose houses got burned sought refuge at the mosque.
Several foreigners also helped put out the fire.
Around 300 firefighters, residents and foreigners responded, according to Lieutenant Commander Randall Parker, an American volunteer for the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“Some of us foreigners who reside in this island resort wanted to preserve the beauty of Boracay,” said Parker.
Meanwhile, business group Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) is also appealing for donation to help the fire victims.
“In the true spirit of Christmas, let us all help our community members who lost their homes and all their belongings during the fire that hit Ambulong area,” urged BFI Executive Director Pia Miraflores.