BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – A blaze that started in a crowded community where old wooden houses can still be found here gutted 10 dwellings, injured three people and affected more than a hundred persons earlier today, 31 August 2022, on the last day of the dead season.
The injured were identified by the fire bureau as Judith Ramos, 47, who had chest pains and body weakness; Armando Dellia, 72, who had an injured left foot; and Sharon Aguilar, 56, who had breathing difficulties.
Local fire chief Rodel Legaspi told DNX the fire started from the house of Edwin Dela Cruz past 10am and spread to neighboring ones.
The house, a two-storey one, is mostly made of wood, one of the old design houses that can be found in the Villamonte area, an old part of this city and the first barangay here.
Arson probers have yet to know what started the fire.
The fire marshal added that person who told the bureau about the fire personally came to the Lopez Jaena Substation, only at least a block away from the fire scene.
“When I came in the house, one of my female boarders screamed there was a fire, so I helped fetch water and tried to put it out,” Delacruz said.
He, however, cannot say how the incident started because when arrived, the fire had already started.
The homeowner further added that the fire started at the second floor of his house where his four boarders stay.
The affected residents will stay for now at the village covered court, community leader Maria Fe Fegidero said.
She added that 14 houses were destroyed while only two were damaged.
The fire bureau said the 147 individuals are composed of home owners, boarders, and residents.
“We did not save our belonging, not even one,” Christopher Doruelo, 34, one of the residents who lost his home to the fire said.
“When someone shouted ‘fire,’ we immediately ran,” Sherwin Mante, 33, another resident added.
