Fire gobbles 17 houses

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A total of 13 houses were razed to the ground while four others were damaged in a fire that hit a residential area at Purok Santan 1, Barangay Zone 3, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental Thursday afternoon, the Cadiz City Fire Station reported.

According to arson investigators, the fire broke out around 12:40 p.m. at the house of Arnulfo Chavez, and immediately spread to several houses mostly made of light materials.
The fire was raised to second alarm and augmentation from neighboring fire stations in Manapla town and Sagay City also responded.

The blaze affected 21 families and left an estimated damage of P150,000.

The victims were identified as Jonathan Buhat, Arnulfo Chavez, Aimea Santillan, Anamae Chavez, Editha Superiano, Editha Buhat, Gretchen Serbese, Ginalyn Bayon-on, Angelica Bayon-on, Gerald Espinosa, Beatriz Benigay, Nida Calimpong, Daniel Garche, Marlon Radaza, Ryan Baldia, Coritha Loberisco, Clarissa Loberisco, Michael Gabayeron, Tristan Cubacub, Mario Libo-on Jr., and Ariel Buhat.

The blaze was quelled at around 2 p.m.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has yet to determine the cause of fire. No injuries reported.