ILOILO City — A fire believed to have been triggered by leftover firecrackers destroyed two houses and partially damaged another in Barangay Mohon, Arevalo district yesterday afternoon.
The blaze broke out at approximately 2:30 p.m. in a residential area near a bus terminal. Due to the houses being made of light materials, the flames spread rapidly, according to Carol Gison, a relative of the victims.
Gison claimed the fire originated from a stock of firecrackers remained from the New Year celebrations. Residents in the area supported this claim, reporting that they heard a loud explosion just before the fire erupted.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire was brought under control by 2:49 p.m. A “fire out” was declared at 3:08 p.m.
Latest data indicates that 11 family members have been affected by the incident.
While the initial accounts point to the stored firecrackers as the cause, the BFP’s thorough investigation to confirm the exact origin and estimated cost of the damage was ongoing as of press time./PN
