BACOLOD CITY – A bedridden 72-year-old woman died and her sister was injured in a fire that destroyed their house in Hacienda Luvina, Purok Malipayon, Barangay Bacong, Bago City, Negros Occidental on Thursday, February 29.

A POLICE officer looks at a house in Barangay Bacong, Bago City, Negros Occidental destroyed by a fire on Thursday, February 29. A bedridden senior citizen was killed and her sister was injured in the fire. (Photo courtesy of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office)
The fatality was identified as 72-year-old Lurencia Buenaflor.
Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Renefred Atadora, arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Ma-ao substation, said the fire broke out around 10 a.m. and was believed to have originated in one of the rooms of the house made of mixed concrete and light materials.
Atadora said that a family member saw thick smoke inside the house, prompting her to rescue them, including Buenaflor’s brother-in-law, who is wheelchair-bound.
Buenaflor’s 58-year-old sister returned to the house to rescue her in her room but the fire grew. She suffered minor burns and has been discharged from a hospital.
Damage to property was placed at P1.2 million and fire out was declared at 10:46 a.m.
Fire Senior Insp. Roberto Tamayo Jr., acting city fire marshal, condoled with the family of the victim.
The fire happened a day before the BFP observes Fire Prevention Month.