Fire leaves 71 families homeless in Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – The city government is mobilizing assistance for 71 families, or 289 individuals, displaced by a fire that broke out in Purok Ramon, Magsaysay, Barangay 14 on Tuesday.

A total of 32 houses were affected, with 22 destroyed and 10 partially damaged.

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Bacolod received the fire call at 3:14 p.m.

Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip, city fire marshal, said in a media interview that the fire was raised to second alarm nine minutes later because of the severity of the blaze and the difficulty firefighters faced in reaching the area through narrow pathways.

Other fire stations and volunteer groups augmented the BFP during the firefighting operation.

Residents were also seen forming a bucket brigade to help firefighters contain the blaze.

The fire was placed under control at 3:40 p.m. and declared out at 3:52 p.m.

No casualties were reported.

Fire Officer 2 Rolin Paulan, chief arson investigator of BFP-Bacolod, said the fire started on the second floor of a two-story house owned by the Doronila family.

Paulan said in a media interview that the blaze was initially believed to have been caused by an overheated appliance, possibly an electric fan.

The homeowner was on the ground floor when he noticed the fire coming from his son’s bedroom.

The BFP estimated the damage at PHP 4.5 million.

Mayor Greg Gasataya visited the affected residents on Wednesday.

The displaced residents were temporarily sheltered in evacuation centers and needed clothes and hygiene kits.

The city government had already provided food and other basic necessities to the fire victims.

Paulan reminded the public not to leave appliances unattended at home, especially during the summer season.