Fire displaces 22 families in Bacolod blaze

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Twenty-two families were left homeless after a fire razed seven houses in Purok Calachuchi, Burgos-Locsin Streets, Barangay 9 on Wednesday.

Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said the blaze destroyed five houses and partially damaged two others, affecting 41 individuals.

She said the fire broke out at 3:48 p.m. and originated from the second floor of a two-story house made of light materials and owned by a certain Roberto.

Masip raised the first alarm three minutes later, as the flames quickly spread to nearby homes after an adjacent firewall collapsed.

No injuries were reported, but one family managed to retrieve the remains of a deceased loved one during the fire, which occurred while a wake was being held.

Masip said the fire occurred in a densely populated area.

Authorities declared the fire out at 4:23 p.m.

The estimated damage was pegged at PHP 155,000.

The Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod is investigating the cause of the fire.

The city government, through the Department of Social Services and Development and the Office of Bacolod Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, has extended food assistance to affected families.