SAN FERNANDO, La Union , Philippines – A fire lasting nearly four hours, blamed on children playing with matches, gutted 20 commercial establishments and residential houses along the national highway in Barangay Sevilla here.
The fire started at around 9:15 a.m. and was put under control at around 1 p.m. It reached the fifth alarm and caused heavy traffic on the city’s main roads.
Michael Ruiz, one of the displaced residents, told The STAR that the fire allegedly started in a room of his house where his children, aged below six, allegedly toyed with matches, burning the foam of their bed.
“I was not around when the fire happened. My children and our maid were left at the house. They (children) allegedly played with matches,” Ruiz said.
Ruiz’s maid managed to bring the children out of the house but the fire swiftly spread to the adjoining houses and business establishments.
Fire damage was initially estimated at P15 million. No one was reported hurt in the blaze.
Mayor Pablo Ortega ordered the city’s social welfare and development office to assist the affected residents.