Couple, 7-Year-Old Daughter Die in Iloilo City Fire

By Jennifer P. Rendon

A couple and their young daughter died in an early morning fire in Molo district, Iloilo City.

Reports said spouses Louelyn, 47, and Julius Reyes, 45, and their 7-year-old daughter, Amber Marie, were trapped inside their two-story house at Zone 6, Barangay Infante, Molo, when the fire broke out at around 4:50 a.m. on March 8.

Fire Supt. Melanie Habawel, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Iloilo City fire marshal, said they received the fire call at around 4:56 a.m.

BFP responders arrived at the scene three minutes later.

The fire reached the second alarm before it was declared under control at 5:15 a.m.

It destroyed three houses before being fully extinguished at 5:25 a.m.

The homes of the Reyes family and a certain Jeru Gregorio were completely burned, while the adjacent house of Jory Nacionales sustained partial damage.

Habawel said initial findings suggest the fire started on the second floor near the stairs.

“We believe that’s the possible point of origin because that area had completely collapsed,” she said.

The couple, both teachers, and their child could not be rescued as the fire quickly engulfed their home.

When BFP personnel retrieved their bodies, Louelyn was reportedly hugging her daughter, while Julius was lying in a prone position.

Habawel said investigators have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.

“It’s still under investigation. We need to send debris samples to the national office for examination,” she said.

If the fire was electrical in nature, investigators will determine whether it was due to overloading or a loose connection.

Meanwhile, Habawel said the estimated damage to property was PHP270,000.