Fire destroys house of village chair on All Saints' Day
TACLOBAN CITY – A fire destroyed the house of the barangay captain of Mapgap, Baybay City, Leyte on All Saints' Day.
The family of Jose Mangayaay, 42, left lighted candles after offering a prayer for their departed loved ones at the altar on the second floor unattended.
Minutes later, neighbors noticed fire and smoke on the second floor, prompting them to initiate a bucket brigade to put out the blaze which spread quickly as the altar and house were made of light materials.
The Bureau of Fire Protection-Baybay was called but they did not arrive on time to put out the fire due to distance.
Mapgap is a mountainous barangay about 25 kilometers away from the Baybay police station. The area has no mobile phone signal and the barangay reported the fire to authorities via two-way radio.
The BFP estimated the damage to property in the fire at P100,000.