By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least 35 families or 114 individuals were displaced after a fire broke out in a residential area at Barangay Mambulac in Negros Occidental’s Silay City early yesterday morning.

A total of 26 homes were destroyed, while eight others were damaged in the blaze.

Fire Senior Inspector Jovelyn Zamar, acting fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Silay, said the blaze in the village’s Sitio Dacutan Dacu reached the third alarm status.

Zamar said they were prompted to call for additional fire fighting equipment from BFP units in neighboring cities of Bacolod, Talisay and Victorias, and E.B. Magalona town.

Bacolod-based fire volunteer brigades from Chamber and Amity also responded to the call.

Zamar said two firetrucks were dispatched after they received the fire call shortly before 2:00 a.m. yesterday.

She added that the fire was put under control at 3:17 a.m. and a fire out was finally declared before 4:00 a.m.

The BFP also recorded one injured individual in the blaze, a 93-year-old, who was rushed to a hospital in Bacolod for treatment.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze, and the cost of damage.

Meanwhile, Zamar denied the allegations that their firetrucks did not have any water during their response.

The acting fire marshal explained they have one super tanker firetruck that could carry 2,000 liters of water.

She said that one full blast from the firetruck’s pressure nozzle could only last three to five minutes.

Zamar said they had difficulty responding to the area as the streets were narrow.

She added that some are even “illegally” occupied by vehicles./DGB, WDJ