By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A grandmother was killed, while two others were injured, following an afternoon blaze at Purok Calong-calong, Barangay Singcang-Airport, Bacolod City, yesterday afternoon.
Bacolod City Fire Marshall, Fire Superintendent Rodolfo Denaga, identified the fatality as Marivic Cabinbin, noting she died due to a heart attack.
Denaga said the fire initially started around 12:25 p.m., but their station did not receive the fire call for another five minutes.
Residents in the area panicked due to their homes being made of light materials and the fire was made worse due to strong winds.
The blaze reached “third alarm” status, which required the assistance of fire stations from the cities of Bago, Talisay, and Silay.
A fireout was later declared at 2:05 p.m.
Based on initial investigations made by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire originated in a kitchen inside a house owned by a certain Irene Sanz.
As of 5:00 p.m. yesterday, 13 houses were reported destroyed and three damaged. Damage is estimated to total around P500,000.
Two women were also injured in the blaze, although Denaga said they only suffered minor burns.
Following the fire, Barangay Singcang-Airport Captain Rossinie Distrito ordered affected residents evacuated to a nearby chapel.
The local barangay government distributed food supplies to the affected residents.
Meanwhile, another fire was reported in Barangay Cabug, around 2:30 p.m.
Arson investigator, Fire Officer 3 (FO3) Raynor Alba, said the homeowner, identified as Kristelyn Gico, was trying to burn some dried leaves during the incident.
Believing the fire was already out, Gico swept the burned leaves into the nearby stockroom of her house causing the incident.
The fire was quelled upon the arrival of firefighters, while damage is estimated at P100,000./WDJ