A 7-year-old girl allegedly died of suffocation after being trapped inside the bathroom of their house when a fire broke out in a residential area in Golden Acres, Barangay Talon Uno, Las Piñas City, on Sunday afternoon, July 20.
Firefighters respond to a second-alarm fire that broke out in a residential area in Las Piñas City.
(Photo from Zero One Volunteer Fire Brigade Inc.)
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire was raised to the first alarm at 3 p.m. and escalated to the second alarm at 3:03 p.m. due to densely packed houses made of light materials.
In a radio interview, Barangay Talon Uno Chairwoman Irene Gallardo said the 7-year-old victim was found inside the bathroom of their house with the faucet still running.
She said responders who were able to get inside the house reported that the child died of suffocation and that the body was not burned.
Gallardo added that the child’s parents admitted they had left her alone and locked the door as they had to go somewhere for a while.
The BFP said three other individuals were injured in the incident.
Gallardo also said around 50 families were affected and are temporarily staying at the Golden Acres Covered Court.
The BFP said they are still determining the number of affected houses.
Firefighters were able to put the fire out at 4:43 p.m.
Arson investigators are still investigating the total cost of damage and the cause of the fire.