Mayor's house, 7 others burned, Fire chief dies during blaze

ILOILO CITY, , Philippines – An early morning fire gutted the house of Zarraga town Mayor Gregorio Brazas and six other houses and a restaurant on Arimas St., Barangay Poblacion Ilawod, Zarraga, Iloilo yesterday.

Town fire marshal SFO3 Nerio Duremdes also died while reportedly helping put off the fire.

He was rushed to Iloilo Mission Hospital for treatment but at 8:42 a.m., BFP regional director Senior Supt. Eleuterio Yturriaga confirmed that Duremdes died.

Duremdes allegedly suffered from cardiac arrest.

While Brazas’ house was partially damaged, reports from the local police said the conflagration reduced to ashes the houses owned by Gerry Lamson, Agapito Pinuela, Alma Embudo, Nilda Domingo, Cristobal Gulmatico, and Nelson Gulmatico.

The BFP pegged the damage at P1.2 million.

Zarraga PNP investigator SPO2 Diosdedit Saludares said they received a fire call at 4:40 a.m. Fire fighters were able to put off the fire at 6 a.m.

The fire allegedly started from Lamson’s house. Investigation showed an unattended kerosene lamp triggered the fire.

Police said the blaze spread fast to the neighboring houses, which are mainly made of light materials.

In a radio interview, Lamson said that a brownout occurred Tuesday evening. His wife lit the kerosene lamp to keep vigil to their baby.

Without their knowledge, Lamson said their special child entered their room and played with the kerosene lamp.

Reports had it that a certain Bryan Yusay, Mayor Brazas’ nephew, was rushed to the hospital after a road mishap.

Yusay was allegedly riding on his motorcycle to summon the mayor about the fire when the vehicular accident happened.

Local police are yet to confirm the said report. – THE FREEMAN