Midnight fire displaces 314 families in Bacolod

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – A total of 314 families or 963 individuals were left homeless after a midnight fire ravaged a densely populated residential area in Purok Cheriza, Barangay 27, on Friday.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, the fire initially destroyed 216 houses, with 180 totally burned and 36 partially damaged.

A later assessment by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) raised the number of damaged houses to 234, with 232 totally burned and two partially damaged, as of 4 p.m.

The blaze, which covered about 3,000 square meters, caused an estimated PHP 4.5 million in damage.

City Fire Marshal Fire Supt. Jenny Mae Masip said the BFP received the call at 12:09 a.m. while already responding to another fire in Barangay Granada that started at 11:23 p.m. Thursday.

The fire reportedly began on the second floor of a rented home occupied by a couple identified only as “Fritz” and “Sunshine.”

A neighbor said the house had no power, and the couple used an extension cord to connect electricity from a nearby house.

The initial investigation pointed to electrical arcing as the cause of ignition, Masip said.

Because the blaze spread rapidly through tightly packed houses made mostly of light materials, the BFP raised the alert to a third alarm two hours later, requiring reinforcements from nearby fire stations.

Masip said firefighters faced challenges due to narrow passageways and only two entry points into the area, which is categorized as a fire-prone red zone.

No civilian casualties were reported, but a firefighter sustained a hand injury while pulling a hose.

The fire was declared out at 3:10 a.m.

The BFP is urging the couple to cooperate with authorities, as their statements are critical to the investigation.

“We’re calling on them to show up to give light to the incident, as any information from them is vital to the investigation,” Masip said.

While the incident is currently considered accidental, affected residents may pursue legal action if negligence is established, Masip said.

She also advised residents to avoid returning to the site for their safety while clearing operations continue.

Mayor Greg Gasataya went to the area after learning of the incident and later visited evacuation centers to check on the victims and assess their needs.

The city government has already extended initial assistance.

In a Facebook post, Gasataya expressed sympathy for the affected residents and gratitude toward emergency responders and volunteers.

“It pains us to see our people like this. We will do everything we can to ease their burden and help them hold on to hope,” Gasataya said.

“Our courage and resilience are greater than any flame. You have an entire city that cares—ready to help you start again and walk this road to recovery with you.”

In a media interview at the evacuation center, Gasataya said he will coordinate with the Bacolod Housing Authority and barangay officials on the possible relocation of fire victims.

He added that once the final accounting of fire victims is completed, the city will process the distribution of financial assistance.

Gasataya said fire victims may stay at the school evacuation center for up to 15 days.

He assured that the city is open to helping them in any way it can.

Caption: An aerial view of an area in Barangay 27, Bacolod City, where close to 1,000 residents were left homeless after a midnight fire broke out in a congested residential area on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Jeamoto Vlog FB)