Occupant claims P1M cash lost in fire

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A fire broke out yesterday morning in a residential neighborhood at Purok Kitahanon in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City.

Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod City (BFP-Bacolod) chief, Fire Chief Inspector Pobleo Ploteña, said the fire call was received around 11:06 a.m. and originated from a two-story home owned by Carlos Consolacion.

Hundreds of residents fled the area, fearing the fire would quickly spread as most of the structures were made of light materials.

Firefighters from the BFP and volunteer fire brigades also experienced initial difficulty in trying to quell the blaze due to narrow passageways.

Consolacion’s home was also used to warehouse cooking oil, which made combating the blaze more difficult.

Despite the initial setbacks, some residents helped firefighters in combating the blaze by passing water buckets.

Ploteña said the fire was under control by around 11:20 a.m.. A fireout was later declared at 11:45 a.m.

Arson investigators investigated the blaze and concluded the source was from a clothes iron left unattended.

They also pointed out the blaze started in a room occupied by Kristy Consolacion.

Ploteña also reported the estimated cost of damages at P200,000; however, one of the occupants of the house claimed to have P1 million in cash earnings lost in the blaze.

The BFP-Bacolod is continuing their probe into the incident and is conducting further assessment on the cost of damages./DGB, WDJ