BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Friday’s fire razed at least 15 houses near the public plaza, part of Barangay 12 here.
A traffic enforcer made a fire call around 9:36 a.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The blaze started at a two-storey boardinghouse owned by Rody Agravante, Fire Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi told the press.
What may have caused the fire?
A burning candle was left unattended, initial investigation showed.
It allegedly touched one of the curtains in the boarding house, Legaspi said.
Residents, meanwhile, claimed that a child allegedly played with fire, although Legaspi said they were still looking into the report.
“We are still investigating and interviewing witnesses,” Legaspi said.
Firefighters also had a hard time fighting the blaze as the area’s passageways were constricted, coupled with the winds which further fanned the blaze.
The smoke also caused “zero visibility” along San Juan Street heading towards the downtown area.
Forty inmates from nearby Police Station 1 were also evacuated from their jail cells and transferred to another room due to the smoke billowing from the blaze.
Several employees from a popular shopping mall who were boarding in the area also rushed to their boarding houses to try to save whatever possessions they could.
A few firefighters suffered minor injuries. At least one person was spotted being brought to a nearby ambulance.
Several elderly were also noted to have suffered a spike in their blood pressures, and were immediately given first aid by responding medics.
No casualties were reported.
BFP declared a “fire out” around 12:05 p.m. Property loss was estimated at P100,000.
With the fire incident – already third in the city in a span of two weeks – Legaspi reminded the public anew to be more watchful.
He noted that with the current dry, hot and windy conditions being experienced in the city, the possibility of a fire may also increase.
Meanwhile, the city government ordered the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Social Services and Development to provide assistance to the fire victims. The affected families will also receive financial assistance./PN
