La Paz fire destroys 17 houses

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An afternoon fire in Zone 2, Barangay Gustilo, La Paz, Iloilo City destroyed 17 houses in less than 30 minutes.

The Bureau of Fire Protection-Iloilo City said it received the alarm at 2:06 p.m. on March 19.

When firefighters reached the area, at least five houses were already on fire.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Denmark Macoco, acting chief of the BFP-Iloilo City Intelligence and Investigation Unit, said the fire quickly spread because most of the houses were made of light materials.

The fire was placed under control at 2:30 p.m.

By then, 12 houses had been totally destroyed and five had been partially damaged.

The fire affected 19 families, or 77 individuals.

Macoco said fire out was declared at 2:53 p.m.

Initial investigation showed the fire may have started in the house of a resident identified only as Leo.

Barangay Captain Francisco Gaspar Jr. of Barangay Gustilo said Leo allegedly wanted to take a nap.

Because there were mosquitoes, Leo allegedly lit an egg carton and placed it on top of a table.

Gaspar said the wind blew the burning egg tray, which eventually started the fire in Leo’s house.

He said Leo later sought his help for security because affected neighbors were blaming him for the blaze.

Leo was temporarily taken to an Iglesia ni Cristo facility for refuge.

Macoco said damage to property was estimated at PHP 200,000.

Based on BFP records, the La Paz blaze was already the 14th fire incident in Iloilo City this month.

Of the total, 11 were structural fires and three were grass fires.