3 kids die in Alegria fire

Three children perished in a fire that hit their house in sitio Alangasil, barangay Madridejos, Alegria town, last Thursday evening.

The victims were identified as one-year-old Christian, two-year-old Epralin and three-year-old Deza, all surnamed Lastimoso, of barangay Madridejos, a mountain barangay some six kilometers away from the town proper.

Their seven-year-old brother, who was not named, escaped unhurt after he was able to jump out of the window of their house.

The victims' parents Sulpicio, 46, and Julia , 43, were not around when the fire started. Julia was reportedly attending the coronation night of a beauty contest at their place where one of her daughters won as fourth runner-up.

Municipal social welfare officer Delisa Requeron said Julia, told her that around 7 p.m. last Thursday, she left their house to escort her daughter to the coronation night at a nearby sitio.

Julia said her husband agreed to stay with their children, but she did not know he later left to go drinking session with their neighbors.

"Wala siya mahibawo nga gibiyaan sa iyang bana ang ilang balay ug nahabilin ang ilang upat ka mga gagmayng anak," Requeron said.

Alegria police chief S/Insp. Dionpe Español said an unattended kerosene lamp started the fire at around 8 p.m. The house, which was made of light materials, burned quickly and arriving firemen could do nothing to help the trapped children and later recovered their charred remains among the ashes.

"Wala gayud nahimo ang atong kabomberohan kay dili masulod sa sakyanan ang lugar nga gipuy-an sa managtiayon nga Lastimoso," Español said.

Alegria municipal Mayor Raul Guisadio will call for a meeting with members of the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council on Monday to help raise money for the couple.

Requeron said municipal employees have made their personal contributions.

Last March, a two-year-old girl died while her grandparents suffered burn injuries in a fire that hit a house in the nearby town of Badian. - Jose P. Sollano/BRP