ILOILO City — Three separate fires broke out within a span of less than three hours on Friday morning, February 27, hitting Iloilo City and the municipalities of San Miguel and Leganes in Iloilo Province, and raising fresh concerns over fire safety as the dry season intensifies just days before Fire Prevention Month in March.
The blazes — a warehouse fire in Iloilo City, a residential fire in San Miguel, and a rubbish fire in Leganes — prompted swift responses from firefighters and local officials. While no injuries were reported, several homes, vehicles, and properties were destroyed, with damage in one incident alone estimated at more than P400,000.
Warehouse Fire in Bankers Village, Iloilo City
A fire erupted at approximately 8:55 a.m. in a warehouse at Bankers Village, Barangay Dungon B, Jaro, Iloilo City.
According to warehouse owner Shiela Juaneza, the structure had been empty since 7 a.m., and no one was inside when the fire started.
Residents reported hearing a series of explosions shortly before flames engulfed the building.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 9:20 a.m. and declared it fully extinguished at 9:35 a.m.
Although no injuries or damage to nearby houses were reported, the fire destroyed one vehicle, two motorcycles, and a generator stored inside the warehouse.
Authorities are still investigating the cause.
Responders encountered difficulties due to low-hanging “spaghetti wires,” leaning utility posts, and narrow access roads.
Fire Officer 1 Vann Damme Jones Contreras of the Bureau of Fire Protection said residents helped responders by lifting dangling wires with wooden poles, allowing fire trucks to pass through.
3 Houses Burn in San Miguel
Barely 30 minutes later, at around 9:30 a.m., another fire broke out in Barangay San Jose, San Miguel, Iloilo, destroying three houses and partially damaging a small store (tiangge).
Initial investigation suggested the fire may have started after a child was reportedly playing with fire, though authorities stressed that the cause has not yet been confirmed.
Senior Fire Officer 4 Dennis Olivares, officer-in-charge of the San Miguel Fire Station, said the source of the blaze remains under investigation.
Firefighters declared the fire under control shortly after 10 a.m., with assistance from a responding fire truck from adjacent Oton town.
The estimated damage was pegged at approximately P404,000.
Local officials reminded residents to closely supervise children and exercise caution, especially amid hot and dry weather conditions.
Rubbish Fire Near Barangay Hall in Leganes
By 11:30 a.m., a third fire was reported in Barangay Hechanova, Leganes, Iloilo.
Barangay Kagawad Robert Villegas said the fire originated from a rubbish pile near the barangay hall and may have been caused by the caretaker of an adjacent lot.
The flames spread quickly and ignited nearby vehicle tires.
Residents immediately alerted the Bureau of Fire Protection – Leganes, whose quick response prevented the fire from spreading to nearby properties.
No injuries were reported.
Villegas urged residents to refrain from burning trash, particularly during the current hot weather conditions, stressing that community safety must remain a priority.
Heightened Fire Risk
The three separate incidents in one morning underscore growing fire risks during the dry season, a period historically marked by increased fire occurrences nationwide.
Local authorities continue to investigate the causes of the incidents while intensifying fire prevention education campaigns in communities.
With Fire Prevention Month set to begin in March, officials are urging households and business owners to conduct safety checks, ensure proper electrical wiring, avoid open burning, and remain vigilant to prevent further incidents.
March is observed as Fire Prevention Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A, underscoring the government’s year-round campaign to heighten public awareness on fire prevention and safety.
For this year’s observance, the Bureau of Fire Protection is adopting the campaign slogan, “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa,” emphasizing shared responsibility among government agencies, communities, institutions, and households in preventing fire incidents.
Last week, state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) – Iloilo confirmed that Western Visayas has begun transitioning away from the cooler northeast monsoon toward warmer conditions expected to intensify by early March.
Weather forecasters said residents should brace for steadily rising temperatures in the coming weeks as the country shifts from the amihan season to the dry months.
“Ga-amat amat na kita transition sa dry season. Possible by end of February or early weeks sang March ang transitioning ta,” said PAGASA-Iloilo weather forecaster Leonor Silvestre.
The transition comes as the northeast monsoon or amihan weakens and the easterlies — warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean — gradually become more dominant, bringing warmer and more humid conditions across the region.
Once the dry season is officially declared, PAGASA-Iloilo will begin recording and releasing heat index readings to guide the public./PN
