BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – A huge fire struck a neighborhood on Lopez Jaena Street, Barangay Villamonte yesterday morning, injuring three people.
The fire began at around 10:55 a.m. at a two-storey house owned by Edwin Dela Cruz, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
The fire quickly spread to neighboring houses as they were made of light materials.
The situation was further worsened by strong winds which further fanned the blaze.
The BFP’s Lopez Jaena substation across the street quickly responded.
The fire was placed under “First Alarm” status at around 10:56 a.m. and later escalated to “Second Alarm”, prompting a call for every available fire truck in the city.
Residents, meanwhile, reportedly panicked during the initial start of the blaze.
Some of the residents managed to save their belongings, while others had nothing but the clothes on their backs.
A “fire out” was finally declared shortly before 12 noon.
Fire Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, the city fire marshal, said a total of 11 homes were gutted with damages estimated at around P900,000.
Legaspi also said three were injured, with one person being sent to the hospital after complaining of difficulty in breathing.
The affected residents temporarily moved to the Villamonte Gym.
The BFP is investigating the cause of the blaze./PN
