By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least P100,000 worth of belongings were destroyed after a fire broke out at a house yesterday morning at Felisa-Handumanan roads at Purok Kasilingan in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Authorities identified the owner of the house as 78-year-old Rosita Puerta; while Pamela Puerta, Kyla Puerta, and Keith Miguel Puerta occupied the home.

Based on a statement by the house helper Dolor Chavez, the family lit a candle in prayer for one of Puerta’s grandchildren, who is in Iloilo City taking an exam.

Around 8:30 a.m., the occupants, except for Keith, who was sleeping in his room, left to have breakfast next door, leaving the lit candle unattended.

Fifteen minutes later, Keith was awoken by the heat and discovered the fire was already raging at the altar, prompting him to shout “Fire!”

Keith was able to save some of their belongings, along with his pet cat, although the fire quickly spread throughout the house.

The fire also threatened to spread to nearby Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish Church, prompting the parish priest and the church staff to evacuate.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other volunteer fire brigades arrived around 9:00 a.m. and managed to quell the blaze 30 minutes later.

The Puerta family have since moved to a relative’s house, while BFP arson investigators have cordoned off the house for further investigation./DGB, WDJ