ILOILO City – A fast-spreading fire tore through a densely populated residential area in Barangay Salvacion Habog-Habog, Molo district on Wednesday afternoon, displacing six families, including retired public school teachers, and causing nearly P1 million in property damage.
The blaze, which broke out around 4:19 p.m. on May 28, quickly engulfed six structures — four of which were totally destroyed and two partially damaged.
A nearby storage facility owned by Sunny Steel also sustained partial damage, bringing the estimated structural loss to P945,000.
Firefighters raised the alarm in rapid succession as the flames spread through homes made of mixed materials. The first alarm was declared at 4:20 p.m., second at 4:22 p.m., and third by 4:33 p.m.
The fire was placed under control at 4:41 p.m. and fully extinguished by 4:53 p.m.
Fire Officer 2 Jhon Paquito C. Verano, arson investigator, said the blaze may have originated on the second floor of the home of Regina Canja due to an electrical ignition. The exact cause remains under investigation.
Those whose homes were completely destroyed included Regina Canja, Jefryl Canja, Jhon Salgado, and Rustico Ledesma.
The partially damaged homes belonged to Rizel Dayangco and Remia Puljanan.
The Sunny Steel warehouse, owned by businessman Alex Lu, also suffered minor fire damage.
Seventeen individuals were affected by the incident, according to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). Some of the displaced residents are temporarily housed at Baluarte Elementary School and Iloilo City National High School.
Emergency responders from the Iloilo City Fire Station, FedFire, ICAG, CDRRMO-USAR, and volunteer groups such as Mt. Tigers, PEGASUS, UNICORN, SONIC, and ASVRO worked together to contain the fire. No injuries or casualties were reported.
Power distributor MORE Electric and Power Corporation promptly shut off electricity in the affected area to prevent further hazards. The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center, in coordination with barangay officials and CSWDO, continues to assess damage and provide relief to the victims./PN
