Fire guts 16 houses
Ten houses were destroyed while six others were damaged by a fire early Sunday morning in Brgy. Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, a report of the Bureau of Fire Protection said.
Destroyed were the houses of Helen Datap, Remia Latumbo, Noel Hucalla, Jose Patriarca, Jonathan Basia, Solomon Basia, Reynaldo Fontanilla, Laura Ballera, Joebert Patriarca, and Aquino Estañol.
Meanwhile, the blaze damaged the houses Mon Reygar Basia, Karen Balen, Jocelyn Victoriano, Basilio Rizo, Nory Hilario, and Jerry Basia.
The fire call was recorded at 3:25 a.m. and the blaze was put out at around 4 a.m.
Fire Officer 1 Rolen Hormina said the fire also injured three persons, including Amalia Figueroa, daughter of house owner Helen Datap.
Figueroa sustained a first degree burn on her left arm.
Noel John Palec, 17, was wounded on his left hand while FO3 Rufino Tañedo, a resident of the place, was injured on the right foot.
Hours before the fire, the village was celebrating their annual fiesta.
Hormina said the incident started at Datap’s house where a lighted candle at the family’s altar on the second floor was left unattended.
The fire immediately spread to the neighboring houses, which were made of mixed materials.*
