Fire ravages four hectares in Boracay

Fire gutted almost four hectares on world-famous leisure beach destination, Boracay Island in Malay town.

Based on an initial report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the June 17 fire started around 2:45 p.m. and was declared under control by 4:50 p.m.

The fire started at the house of one Marcelino Sotto in Sitio Manggayad, Manoc-Manoc village, which is located on the southernmost part of the island.


he fire quickly spread via electrical lines, eating up more than 100 houses until it reached the public market which locals call “Talipapa Bukid.”

The three-hectare market, where those on the island go to buy all sorts of affordable goods, was totally wiped out in the fire.

Former Malay town councilor, Jonathan Cabrera, said the Bureau of Fire Protection had initially planned to send over fire trucks from mainland Malay to beef up efforts by local Boracay firefighters.

Boats were ready to ferry additional fire trucks from Caticlan Port to Boracay Island, but was called off when local firefighters including those from the Boracay Action Group led by prominent islander and Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Commander Leonard Tirol were able to virtually put the fire under control by 5 p.m.

However, it was not until 7 p.m. that the fire was totally put out.

Fire victims, many of whom are employees and workers of resort and hotel establishments on the island, are currently temporarily staying at the Manoc-Manoc village gymnasium.

Authorities say five people were injured in the fire. No casualty was recorded.

The incident has not only caused discomfort to locals, but to tourists as well. Access roads were impassable to vehicles as it was filled with people.

Wednesday’s fire was not the first time that a major blaze occurred on

Boracay. Last January 2005, a fire also severely damaged the Talipapa or flea market for tourists located on Station3.

Cabrera added that vendors who were victims of the January, 2005 fire, were again hit by the fire last Wednesday.

“They were relocated to Talipapa Bukid after the January 2005 fire,” Cabrera noted.


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