The fire in Mambaling, Cebu City displaced more than 800 individuals after a massive blaze engulfed a densely populated community in Sitio Naba, Barangay Mambaling, on March 2, 2025, the second day of Fire Prevention Month.
According to SFO2 Wendell Villanueva, spokesperson for the Cebu City Fire Office, the fire lasted nearly two hours and caused an estimated ₱1.5 million in property damage.
Firefighters received the alarm at 1:20 a.m., quickly raising it to a second alarm due to the fire’s rapid spread through homes mostly made of light materials.
By 2:05 a.m., just 40 minutes after the first report, authorities escalated the fire to the third alarm as it had already consumed approximately 2,700 square meters.
A second and third alarm signified the need for at least eight to twelve fire trucks to contain the blaze.
Firefighters managed to control the fire by 2:29 a.m., and by 3:05 a.m., they officially declared it extinguished.
Initial findings from fire investigators revealed that the fire originated from a house owned by Jorani Daomani.
However, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined as of this report.
Meanwhile, Portia Basmayor, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS), stated that the latest count showed 105 houses were affected, with 100 completely burned down.
As a result, at least 800 individuals have been left homeless, most of whom are currently taking shelter in nearby gyms and schools.