Iloilo City logs 4 fire incidents during Semana Santa

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Iloilo City reported four fire incidents from March 28 to 30, just before the country concludes its observance of Fire Prevention Month.

A grass fire occurred in Compania, Molo on March 28. With swift action from the firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection Iloilo, the situation was brought under control by 12:33 a.m., and the fire was fully extinguished by 12:48 a.m.

Another grass fire erupted in Boystown Calumpang, Molo, on March 29, at 1:06 p.m. Emergency responders managed to contain the fire by 1:25 p.m. and completely extinguished it by 1:38 p.m.

Shortly after, at 1:52 p.m., another grass fire erupted in Atria, Mandurriao. Responders were swiftly deployed to the location but the fire was already extinguished before their arrival

On Black Saturday, March 30, a residential fire broke out on Commission Civil Street in Barangay Our Lady of Fatima, Jaro district.

The fire, reported at 12:48 p.m., reached the second alarm by 12:53 p.m. It was brought under control by 12:57 p.m. and completely extinguished by 1:06 p.m.

A total of four families were affected by the fire after the incident resulted in damage to three houses, with one house being completely destroyed and two others partially damaged.

The damage caused by the residential fire is pegged at P200,000.

Data from the BFP indicates that a total of 36 fire incidents were recorded from March 1 to 27 this year. Of these incidents, 21 were grass fires, eight were residential fires, and six were post-fire situations.

One structural fire was documented during this period. The structural fire, recorded on March 15, affected the 1,078 square meters of the Divinagracia and Celo Ledesma Buildings. Damage to the property is estimated to be at P8 million.

The BFP has identified 125 out of the 180 barangays in Iloilo City as fire-prone areas.