BACOLOD CITY - At least 13 houses and a storage room were razed by a fire at Purok Kitahanon, Barangay Banago here on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Chief Insp. Rodel Legaspi, head of Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, said the fire broke out allegedly from the house of Jerry Villamor.
Legaspi said that nine houses and a storage room of fishing materials were destroyed, while four other houses were damaged.
The fire was raised to second alarm as firefighters had difficulty penetrating the area because of the narrow alleys.
As Villamor’s house was situated in the middle of the village, the fire immediately spread to neighboring houses mostly made of light materials, said Legaspi.
Legaspi said that Villamor was cooking at that time using firewood, when he probably left for a while.
The blaze left an estimated P75,000 worth of damage. No injuries were reported. It took almost an hour for the firefighters to put out the fire.
Legaspi said that nine families composed of 28 persons were affected and are temporarily staying at the barangay’s evacuation center.
Meanwhile, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez visited them that night as the city government provided food and some basic necessities.