MANDAUE CITY — A residential fire that broke out in the dense neighborhood of Deca Homes Jagobiao on Thursday morning rapidly escalated, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky and forcing an urgent response from the city’s fire department. The blaze, which began on April 30, 2026, prompted a second alarm by 9:22 a.m., signaling a significant threat to the closely built homes in the area. As firefighters rushed to the scene, residents looked on with growing concern, their belongings and safety hanging in the balance.
Fire Rapidly Intensifies to Second Alarm
The initial report of the incident, coded as a “10-70” fire alarm, indicated a residential structure fire in the vicinity of Deca Homes Jagobiao. Shortly before 9:30 a.m., the situation had worsened to a second alarm, suggesting the fire had gained considerable momentum. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Mandaue City confirmed that visible black smoke was seen rising from the area, a clear sign of the fire’s intensity as it consumed what are often lightweight, closely situated residential materials.
The Mandaue City Fire Office (MCFO) has yet to release an official statement on the cause of the blaze or the full extent of the damage. However, the escalation to a second alarm within the first hour of the response highlights the challenging conditions faced by firefighters. Senior fire officials were noted to be at the scene, coordinating the multi-truck effort to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading to adjacent blocks.
Fire Trucks Race to the Scene, Residents Evacuate
In response to the escalating emergency, fire trucks were immediately dispatched from stations across the city. The BFP assured the public that units were en route to the affected area, navigating through what is typically a busy junction in Barangay Jagobiao. The prompt mobilization of resources reflects the department’s heightened alert status, particularly given the high-density nature of the Deca Homes housing project.
As the fire progressed, residents in the immediate vicinity of Blocks 9 and 24—where Deca Homes is known to have a dense concentration of townhouses—began evacuating their homes. Preliminary reports indicate that families were seen carrying essential belongings out of harm’s way. The local barangay disaster risk reduction and management team has been activated to assist in the evacuation and to set up temporary shelters for those who may have lost their homes.
