Coastal fire leaves 82 families homeless

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By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 82 families, or 344 individuals, were left homeless after a fire broke out at Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2, early Wednesday.

Based on data from the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), as of 3 p.m. yesterday, those affected included 187 adults, 123 children, 15 senior citizens, three persons with disabilities (PWDs), six infants, four pregnant and lactating women, and five beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, also known as 4Ps.

Fire Superintendent Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said they received a fire call around 3:26 a.m. A total of 81 houses in the coastal area of the village were affected.

Of these, 73 were destroyed, while eight were partially damaged.

Masip noted that it took a few minutes for residents to report the incident, as some were busy saving their properties, while others attempted to extinguish the fire themselves.

The fire reportedly started in an abandoned house belonging to Monaliza Magbanua, temporarily occupied by a person known as “Waldo” for about two months.

Masip said firefighters had difficulty reaching the fire scene, located in the middle of the area, due to narrow alleys. “It was like a maze to enter, and the pathways were very narrow,” she added.

Most of the houses were made of light materials and situated close to each other. Some were even located by the sea, according to Masip.

The alarm status was raised to the fourth alarm due to the extent of the fire, which covered 4,000 square meters, and the difficulties faced by firefighters.

Masip stated that firefighters from Bago City, Talisay City, and Murcia town assisted in augmenting the water supply for the Bacolod City Fire Station responders.

Based on the initial investigation, Masip said the fire was caused by burned egg trays. Neighbors of Waldo mentioned that he would usually burn egg trays as an improvised mosquito repellant.

Masip added that Waldo was serving as the caretaker of Magbanua’s house, which had no power or water connections due to its abandonment.

The fire was brought under control after an hour, with fire out declared at 4:48 a.m. No injuries were reported. The blaze caused an estimated P1.4 million worth of damage.

This incident occurred five years after a fire burned down at least 200 houses in the same area in 2019.

The city government has extended relief goods to the affected families, while the DSSD is preparing to release financial assistance to the fire victims.

Meanwhile, a house was also destroyed at Purok Masinadyahon, Barangay Bata, last Tuesday. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection, the blaze broke out around 11:48 a.m., causing an estimated P525,000 worth of damage. Fire out was declared at 12:10 p.m.