By JEN BAYLON

A four-year-old girl died in a fire that devastated 27 houses and left around 30 families displaced at Barangay 1 in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City on Saturday, March 15.

Fire Officer 1 Reynan Jundos of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in San Carlos reported that the victim was found lifeless in what was believed to be her bedroom.

Initial investigations revealed that the child had been sleeping alongside her two siblings under the care of their grandmother when the fire broke out at 2:50 p.m.

While the others managed to escape, Jundos said the young girl reportedly returned to the house and became trapped, leading to her untimely death.

The fire reached first alarm, and was declared out at 4:37 p.m.

Another woman suffered first-degree burns on her hand, shoulder and nose following the fire.

The BFP is still investigating the cause of the fire, but preliminary findings suggest it originated in the home of Norisa Era.

The fire displaced dozens of families, many of whom are temporarily staying at the barangay covered court.

Authorities are coordinating assistance for those affected as investigations continue into this devastating incident./JB, WDJ