BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Forty 40 houses were damaged by fire in Purok Neptune, Barangay Singcang-Airport here yesterday afternoon.
The fire started past 4 p.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
As this was being written, the cause of the blaze was yet to be ascertained.
Residents, however, claimed they heard at least four explosions at a store.
The flames quickly crawled into several homes. Residents were quick to save their belongings and livestock.
Some residents secured buckets of water from a nearby river and tried to put out the blaze.
However, strong winds further fanned the fire and more homes were engulfed in flames.
Extinguishing the blaze was also a struggle as the affected area was some distance away from the main road.
BFP personnel and fire volunteer groups soon arrived.
A “fire out” was declared in 30 to 45 minutes.
Local officials have not reported any casualties.
As of press time, it was still unclear as to where the affected residents would be sheltered, although sources told media that the affected residents would be brought to the Jose R. Torres Elementary School in the same village.
The BFP was also assessing the damage and property loss./PN
