6 trapped in burning house
Passers-by look at the remains of the
house that was turned into ashes,
including six persons trapped in it, by a
raging fire early morning yesterday.
JOEL CAPUNDAN
CUARTERO, Capiz – Six persons were charred to death inside a house that caught fire in Brgy. Poblacion-Tacas, about a hundred meters from the town hall here, early morning yesterday.
The victims were identified as Virginia Francisco, 66, owner of the house; her daughter Joan, 31, Claudia Sion, 94; Ira Mae Cordovero, 13; Chairmane Arabis, 13 and Michelle Gardoze, 13.
They were trapped inside the burning house.
Fire Inspector Patricio Collado, Provincial Deputy Fire Marshall of Capiz, told The News Today (TNT) that the fire started around 1:45 a.m. and was controlled almost 3 a.m. yesterday.
Collado said fire trucks from Dao and Dumarao towns immediately responded after the fire call reason why it did not spread out to the neighboring houses.
Collado said investigation is still ongoing as to the cause or origin of the fire.
He said possible angles are: electrical, a fallen kerosene lamp, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank explosion or motor tank explosion.
As of yesterday, however, arson investigators ruled out LPG tank explosion as cause of the fire as it is still intact when found. The explosion heard by residents could have come from solid bamboos, Cordova said.
Pob. Tacas Brgy Kagawad Maximo Legaspi told TNT that he heard the victims shouting for help but they cannot penetrate due to the fast-spreading fire since the house was a mix of light materials. He also said that they heard explosions from the fire scene.
Mary Jane Senilla, granddaughter 94-year old Claudia Sion, told TNT that her grandmother just came out from Mambusao hospital after having been treated from an ailment.
She said her grandmother opted to stay for one night in the said house because it was already late. They waited for the next morning to go home to Brgy. Mainit which no longer happened.
Firemen said the victims' charred bodies were found hugging each other.
It was believed that the victims, which are all female, were not able to break the bamboo window in the second floor of the house as their possible exit.
Cuartero Mayor Roger Flores said he is saddened by the death of the six persons who are his distant relatives.
“I felt sad about this tragedy as this is the first time that has happened in my town,” Flores said.
Flores said, the municipal government of Cuartero will give P10,000 each as financial assistance to the families of the victims.
Flores said their town has just acquired a firetruck from Cong. Fredenil Castro but they are still on the process of training fire fighters.
Flores thanked to the neighboring towns of Dao and Dumarao who immediately responded to the fire call.