Iloilo City fire razes 17 houses in Molo

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Around 17 houses were razed in an early morning fire on April 23 in Molo, Iloilo City.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Denmark Macoco, acting chief of the Bureau of Fire Protection – Iloilo City Intelligence and Investigation Unit, said an initial probe showed that 14 houses were totally destroyed and three were partially damaged in Barangay Kasing-Kasing, Molo.

However, the City Social Welfare and Development Office said the fire razed 22 houses and affected 99 individuals.

Most of the displaced residents are taking shelter at Baluarte Elementary School.

Macoco said the fire was reported at around 5:28 a.m.

Firefighters were immediately dispatched and placed the fire under control at 6:07 a.m. The BFP – Iloilo City declared the fire out at 6:40 a.m.

Macoco said three civilians suffered minor injuries. None of them required hospital confinement.

There were reports that the fire originated in the house of a certain Ely.

However, Macoco said investigators still could not determine the cause of the fire.

“We could conclude for now if it’s electrical in nature,” he said.

The BFP pegged the damage to property at PHP 420,000.

Authorities said the Kasing-Kasing incident was the sixth residential fire recorded this month. There were also six grass fires recorded during the same period.