ILOILO City – A fire that completely gutted 76 houses in Barangay Ortiz, City Proper on Friday morning left 100 families homeless.
Twelve more houses were partially damaged, according to Chief Inspector Melanie Habawel, city fire marshal.
The fire started at around 2:30 a.m. in the house of Virginia Gallon then quickly spread to other houses that were mostly made of light materials.
“Our firefighters had a hard time getting to the fire scene because of the narrow alleys. It took them an hour to place the fire under control,” said Habawel.
The estimated property damage reached P1 million.
Habawel said electrical short circuit may have sparked the fire.
“Gallon was not around when the fire started at her house. Basi may appliances wala na-off,” he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the city government were helping the affected families that temporarily evacuated to the gym of a university./PN
