BACOLOD CITY , Philippines — The Bureau of Fire Protection in this city raised the number of houses razed by the Wednesday fire in Brgy. Banago, from 100 as earlier reported to 234.
Chief Insp. Bartolome Beliran, city fire marshal, said that the almost two-hour fire also damaged an estimated P3-million worth of properties.
Out of 234 houses, mostly made of light materials, 94 were destroyed and the rest were damaged, he said, adding that the fire hit two puroks of Banago at 12:08 p.m. and was declared under control at 1:45 p.m.
No casualties or injuries were reported, and that the victims are now staying at the classrooms of the Domingo Lacson National High School.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said that, due to the election ban, all donations for the fire victims will be coursed through the Philippine Red Cross, while the Department of Social Services and Development will be in charge of distributing food assistance to them.
Vice Mayor Thaddeus Sayson, who went to the scene, said the city will give P5,000 to those whose houses were destroyed, and P3,000 for those with damaged houses.
Initial investigation showed that the fire originated at the house of a certain Estella Barros in Zone 2, Purok Katilingban, who residents claim, is mentally unstable, and spread to the nearby houses.
Fire trucks from the nearby cities of Talisay, Silay, Victorias and Bago, as well as volunteer brigades, reinforced the BFP Bacolod personnel. (FREEMAN)