Obstructed roads prevented fire trucks from entering

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least nine homes were destroyed, while two others were damaged, following a Saturday morning fire at a Purok Paghidaet residential area in Barangay Tangub, Bacolod City.

Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Fire Marshal, Fire Chief Inspector Publio Ploteña, said, based on findings by their arson investigator, the fire was caused by an unattended candle at a house owned by Luz Galapin.

The fire marshal said the occupants of the home fell asleep when the fire started, although they all managed to escape unharmed.

He said fighting the blaze was difficult as the incident started towards the interior of the residential area and fire trucks were unable to navigate as the roadway was narrow and blocked by several trucks.

Several fire trucks were instead used for re-supplying water to trucks that were able to enter.

Ploteña said the fire caused an estimated P150,000 worth of damages.

In response to the blaze, Barangay Tangub Captain Noli Villarosa said financial assistance will be distributed and displaced residents will be temporarily sheltered at the barangay’s multi-purpose gymnasium.

Villarosa said he hopes the fire serves as a lesson for local residents to always keep roads clear as to not hamper rescue operations during times of disaster.

The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), meanwhile, will provide P10,000 to those whose homes were destroyed and P5,000 to those with damaged houses.

While the BFP set the number of destroyed houses at nine, DSSD claims seven were destroyed./DGB, WDJ