Fire razes 17 houses in Waterfront area
A morning fire totally gobbled 12 houses and partially damaged 5 others in the populated area of Zone 8, Brgy. Veterans Village, Iloilo City.
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Iloilo City arson investigator FO1 Rolen Hormina said that the fire started at around 9:55 a.m. and was put up shortly at 10:20 a.m.
“We were able to put off the fire in 25 minutes but the damage spread to 17 houses because they were mostly made of light materials,” Hormina said.
On top of that, the searing heat and wind did not help in slowing down the fire from spreading to adjoining houses.
Hormina said that the fire started from the room at the upper floor of Aileen Mendoza’s house, which doubled as a boarding house.
He added, though, that they have yet to ascertain the cause of fire but reports claimed that a short circuit of electrical wiring might have triggered the incident.
Aside from Mendoza, the fire also damaged the houses of Nanette Alayon, Rosario Layson, Nanette, Cayapan, Edmar Cayapan, Roland Cayapan, Rosalino dela Paz, Teresita Villacayan, Jocelyn Caldito, Nenito Alipuga, Cora Duremdes, and Gerry Alcarde.
Partially-burned houses are owned by Nenen Cordero, Norlinda Sarsino, Rosario Diamante, Regine Lopez, and Gerry Casiolo.
During the incident, 5 persons, including a fireman, were slightly injured.
Hormina said that residents Alex Tropico was electrocuted while Dennis Dejecacion suffered a punctured wound in haste to salvage some of his belongings.
Further, Evelyn dela Paz sustained incised wound on her left palm while Gabriel Layson’s back was caught by the blaze.
On the other hand, SFO2 Melchor Ordoño suffered a dog bite after he stepped over a dog during their mapping operation.
Although the area is heavily-populated, Hormina noted that the good coordination between BFP and fire volunteers paved the way for the immediate putting off of the fire.
Initially, BFP pegged the damage to property at P350,000.
As this developed, the Iloilo City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) is now working for any assistance to be extended o the affected families.
A few weeks ago, a fire also hit Iloilo City.
Considered as the biggest fire to hit the metro in recent years, it leveled more than 120 houses in Brgy. Nabitasa, La Paz district.
Meanwhile, reports from BFP-Western Visayas claimed that another fire also broke out Friday at Zamora St., Brgy. 6, Roxas City.
It allegedly destroyed 13 houses, which are also made of light materials.
Initial information claimed that the fire started from a boarding house owned by a certain Dalita Almalbis.
A lighted candle that was left unattended allegedly caused the fire.
