ILOILO City — A suspected unattended mobile phone charger sparked a fast-moving fire that razed 10 houses and partially damaged two others in Barangay San Juan, Molo district on Sunday afternoon, January 18, displacing 17 families, authorities said.
The blaze erupted at around 2:15 p.m. in Zone 1A, with residents reporting a loud explosion moments before thick black smoke and flames engulfed tightly packed houses made largely of light and highly combustible materials.
Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly, fuelled by extreme heat, changing weather conditions, and the close proximity of the houses. Residents scrambled to save what belongings they could and attempted to douse the flames before personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arrived.
Firefighters reached the scene within minutes and managed to prevent the blaze from spreading further, but not before extensive damage had already been done.
The fire was declared under control at 3:09 p.m., according to the BFP.
Barangay Captain Jose Maloto said initial findings point to an unattended charger as the cause of the fire, noting that no one was home when the incident started.
“Namangkot ta sa nasunugan. Charger kuno. Naglupok guro. Wala naman ta may mahimo sa disgrasya,” Maloto said.
He added that the family living in the house where the fire originated was away at the time.
The fire left 17 families, or 49 individuals, displaced. Affected residents are temporarily staying at the covered gym of San Juan Elementary School.
Initial estimates place the total damage at around P375,000.
In the aftermath, assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Iloilo City government was immediately extended to the victims. Several volunteer groups have also organized donation drives for food, clothing, and other basic necessities.
“Kami sa Barangay San Juan nga nasunugan, gapangayo gid kami sang bulig. Pasalamatan namon. I-deretso lang nila sa CSWDO (City Social Welfare and Development Office),” Maloto stressed.
Authorities reminded the public to unplug electrical devices when not in use, warning that unattended chargers can overheat and pose serious fire hazards, especially in densely populated communities./PN
