By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around P200,000 worth of property were either damaged or destroyed following a Monday morning house fire at the Teacher’s Village in Barangay 9, Victorias City, Negros Occidental.

Authorities identified the homeowner as Emma Hechanova.

Based on initial investigation by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started around 10:30 a.m. and lasted for at least 25 minutes before they declared a fire-out.

Officials noted they had to use vault cutters to pry open Hechanova’s gate as there was no one home during the incident.

Arson investigators determined the fire was caused by an overheated electric fan./DGB, WDJ