Arson eyed in Roxas City fire

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Bureau of Fire Protection is investigating the possibility that the fire in Barangay Adlawan here, which destroyed three houses and partially damaged two others, was intentional.

SFO1 Junemar Galve, Roxas City Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson, said the fire started at the house of Jonel Dadivas around 7:30 p.m., when a concerned citizen informed his office about the incident.

An initial assessment showed that the estimated damage could reach PHP 137,500.

Galve said the Loctugan Fire Substation and the Panitan BFP were the first to respond to the incident, followed by fire trucks and volunteers from other fire stations.

Three houses were totally burned, while two others were partially damaged after the fire broke out Monday evening in Barangay Adlawan.

According to Adlawan Punong Barangay and concurrent Liga ng mga Barangay President Maaw Roldan, the houses were owned by aliases Joeriz, Joe Rowie, Cyril, Jestony, and Joenel, a barangay treasurer.

The cause and origin of the fire have yet to be determined, as the houses were adjacent to one another.

A certain alias “Dodoy” was injured after he was hit by a roof pulled by rescuers.

The affected residents evacuated to the barangay hall, which served as their temporary shelter, while the Bureau of Fire Protection in Roxas City conducted an investigation.

There were allegations that the fire was intentionally set by one of the house owners for an undetermined reason.

Cyril Tumasa, one of the victims, believed the fire was intentionally set by his nephew, identified as alias “Joshua.”

He recalled that at about 4 p.m., before the conflagration, a heated altercation ensued between their families, during which alias “Joshua” allegedly warned and threatened to burn their house.

That statement was heard by some neighbors, he added.

A few minutes later, a fire broke out and spread to other adjacent houses.