ITOGON, Benguet – An 84-year-old man was killed in a fire that razed his house in Sitio Bay-o, Barangay Tuding, this town, before dawn on Thursday, Dec. 26.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Itogon identified the victim as Felino Balalong Sr.
Investigation said that the victim was cooking using an electric stove when it short-circuited due to overloading. The fire spread rapidly in his house.
Balalong was able to get his wife Romana, 64, out, but he returned to their burning house to retrieve valuables but was trapped and killed.
Romana sustained first-degree burns and recovering in a hospital.
The fire spread quickly as their one-story house was made of light materials.
The area was far from the town center and the house was already engulfed by the blaze when firemen arrived.
Damage to property is yet to be determined.