PAVIA, Iloilo — Following a residential blaze on Sunday, April 19, that left over P224,000 in damage, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this municipality urged the public to immediately report fire incidents instead of filming them or going live on social media, stressing that delays in alerting authorities can cost lives and property.
The fire, which broke out around 8 a.m. at corner Leocadio Evangelista Street, Barangay Purok II, quickly engulfed a house and nearby establishments, triggering panic among residents and raising concerns over response time — concerns that BFP clarified were due to residents’ late reporting.
Some residents claimed it took around 20 to 25 minutes for fire trucks to arrive. However, BFP Pavia said it was only alerted at 8:09 a.m., when a concerned individual personally went to their office.
Fire Senior Inspector Mary Angelie Jala, municipal fire marshal, said responders were dispatched immediately and reached the scene by 8:11 a.m., underscoring that earlier notification could have led to a faster intervention.
The blaze was believed to have started from unattended cooking and rapidly spread due to strong winds and extreme heat, overwhelming the initial firefighting response.
The BFP’s fire truck, carrying 1,000 gallons of water, struggled to contain the fire as it intensified. Additional support had to be requested from nearby stations in Barangay Ungka and San Miguel town, along with volunteer fire brigades, after the initial water supply was exhausted.
The fire was declared out by 9:07 a.m.
Rizalyn Catolico, daughter of the homeowner, recounted the moments as the fire broke out while they were asleep.
“Tulog kami. Nagbugtaw kami sang sang nag singgitan si nanay kag magulang ko nga may sunog. Pero according kay nanay, nag tig-ang tana. Siguro pagkatapos na tig-ang, may baga siguro nga nagpisik kag nagkadto sa nag tumpok nga paraamak sa kilid nga amo to siguro nag sunog sa kusina namon,” Catolico said.
“Alas 8 kami nanaog padalom. Sa sulod ka balay si nanay, ako, duha ka bata, tapos hinablos ko man. Anum kami nabilin kaina sa sunog. Mayo lang nakagwa kami lagi,” she added.
The fire completely gutted their home, which was made of mixed concrete and light materials. Nearby establishments, including an electronics shop, a photo studio, and a manokan, sustained partial damage.
No casualties were reported.
BFP Pavia reiterated its call for the public to act responsibly during emergencies.
Every second counts in fire response, and timely alerts can significantly reduce damage and save lives, it stressed./PN
