Three hurt in New Year blaze

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – A family of three was wounded after their rented house was damaged in a fire several minutes after the New Year’s celebration on Jan. 1, 2023 at Purok Paloma, Barangay 16 here.

Wounded was Española family – Maricel, 41, her husband Marcial, 41, and son Junel, 18.

According to Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Rolly Quiatchon, investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, the fire broke out around 12:27 a.m. from the bedroom of the tenants situated on the second floor of the house owned by Cezar Jeronga.

Quiatchon said the family’s curtain was caught up by fire caused by some sparks from a firecracker.

“Daw nagtalang bala na sparks sang palupok kay bukas abi ila bintana,” he added.

The fire then burned their wooden wall and a portion of their foam inside the bedroom, Quiatchon said.

The victims tried to put out the fire, causing them some minor injuries.

The couple suffered first-degree burns on their fingers, while their son sustained abrasions on both his legs.

The blaze left P5,000 worth of damage. Fire out was declared three minutes later.