BACOLOD CITY – A Pentecostal church and four houses were razed by two fires here on Wednesday morning, April 16.

A CHURCH and four houses were damaged in a fire in separate villages in Bacolod City on Wednesday, April 16. (Photo via Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigade)
The first blaze occurred at 3:41 a.m. in Purok Sambag, Barangay Mandalagan and destroyed the House of Glory Foursquare Gospel Church.
Fire Officer 2 Rolin Paulan, chief arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod, said the fire started in the ceiling of a function hall due to a suspected electrical ignition.
Three people, including a youth pastor and his wife, were inside the mezzanine when the fire broke out but managed to escape safely. The pastor’s dog was found dead in the bathroom.
Paulan noted the fire may have been initially unnoticed, resulting in the total destruction of the fully furnished structure.
Damage to property was estimated at P1.5 million and fire out was declared at 3:55 a.m.
The second fire occurred three hours later, around 6:41 a.m., in Purok Progreso, Zone 2, Abada Escay in Barangay Vista Alegre.
The blaze originated from the home of Rosalie Sederio and affected four residences under the Bacolod Housing Authority.
According to Paulan, two homes were completely destroyed and two others were partially damaged.
The fire was reportedly caused by arson but this remains under investigation pending further evidence and witness statements.
Damage to property in this fire was P1.2 million. Fire out was declared at 6:59 a.m., with no reported injuries.