Woman, 89, dies in Sara fire

By Jennifer P. Rendon

An 89-year-old bedridden woman died after a fire destroyed seven houses in Sara, Iloilo, on the evening of April 28.

Marina Sanico was trapped inside her burning house in Barangay Anoring, about 300 meters from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Sara Sub-Station.

Her body was found inside her room in the family’s one-story home.

Inspector Joery Biliran, Sara BFP municipal fire marshal, said they received the fire call at around 9:10 p.m.

Someone also personally reported the incident to the fire station.

“We immediately responded to the area but the fire already engulfed a larger portion of the Sanico household and spread to adjacent houses,” he said.

The fire was placed under control at 10:43 p.m., while fire out was declared at 12:12 a.m. April 29.

The incident left five houses totally burned and two others partially damaged.

Biliran said authorities have yet to determine the number of affected individuals, as one of the razed structures was used as a boarding house.

The owner of another structure used the property as a storage area for palay.

Marina’s younger brother, 82-year-old Melvin, was her only companion and also served as her caregiver.

Biliran said Melvin sustained burns on his left shoulder and back.

He told fire investigators they were using katol, or a mosquito coil, on the night of the incident.

He recalled that it fell on the floor and that he had to pick it up and place it back on the holder.

“The fire could likely have been likely originated from the Sanico house due to the unattended mosquito coil. But we’re still investigating for other possible causes,” Biliran said.

Initial reports pegged the property damage at PHP 1.6 million.