By CESAR JOLITO III

A massive fire gutted at least 180 houses and damaged 36 others in Bacolod City’s Barangay 27 around midnight yesterday, leaving an estimated P4.5 million worth of damages and 314 families homeless.

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod Fire Superintendent Jenny Mae Masip said the blaze in Purok Cheriza was first reported at 12:09 a.m. through a walk-in informant at the Lopez Jaena Substation.

Masip said firefighters were already responding to a separate residential fire in Barangay Granada before midnight.

Within four minutes, the fire truck arrived at the scene, where responders already saw around 10 houses engulfed in flames.

The fire spread further, as most houses were made of light materials.

The firefighters had difficulty containing the blaze due to narrow passageways at the 3,000-square-meter residential area recently identified by the BFP as one of the red zones, or fire hazard areas, in the city.

The only entrance points to the affected site were on Rizal Street and Lopez Jaena Street.

Masip said the blaze reached third alarm status after two hours, prompting nearby fire stations to respond.

Fire out was declared at 3:10 a.m.

“Fortunately, no civilian casualties or injuries were recorded,” Masip said.

However, a BFP personnel sustained an arm injury after getting snagged on a knife while pulling hoses during the operation.

At least 963 individuals lost their homes in the three-hour fire, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

They are now staying at the Apolinario Mabini Elementary School, where the city government has provided immediate relief assistance.

Ignition

BFP-Bacolod traced the fire’s origin to the second floor of a house rented by a couple identified only by their aliases “Fritz” and “Sunshine.”

Neighbors claimed the pair had no electricity connection and had been tapping power from another house using an extension cord.

Recovered at the scene was an extension wire plugged with a ceiling fan and phone charger.

While some residents initially suspected a candle caused the blaze, investigators confirmed it was an electrical ignition likely due to an overloaded connection.

“The fire was accidental in nature. It cannot be considered arson because arson is intentional. At most, it may fall under negligence resulting in damage to property,” Masip explained.

Neighbors also told BFP that the couple had frequent arguments, including on the night of the incident. Authorities are now urging the two to come forward and coordinate with investigators.

“We are calling on the couple to report to our fire station. Their account will be vital in completing the investigation,” Masip appealed.

Help

The city government, through the Department of Social Services and Development, immediately assisted displaced families at the evacuation site.

Mayor Greg Gasataya said the first priority was to ensure that evacuees had access to basic necessities.

“We immediately provided their basic needs like water, folding beds, and modular tents for their privacy, and we also distributed food packs and other essentials,” Gasataya said.

He added that financial aid would also be extended to help the victims rebuild their homes.

“On the part of the city, we will process everything to give financial assistance for the victims,” he said, noting that the amount is still under evaluation and validation.

The mayor also urged affected residents to avoid finger-pointing and instead focus on recovery.

“We have to understand where they are coming from; to be victimized by fire is no joke. Some of them have been living there for years; they sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears to build their house. We understand their feelings, but hopefully that will subside. Instead, we must concentrate on how to help each other to stand again,” he stressed.

Rehabilitation or relocation?

Gasataya said the city government is now reviewing the status of the affected property, as families are only permitted to stay in the evacuation site for 15 days.

“We have been checking the ownership of the property. For the relocation, we will meet with the Bacolod Housing Authority for those who are willing to transfer to the relocation site,” the mayor said.

The city is considering moving qualified families to relocation sites in Abada-Escay and Arao.

Some families have reportedly presented land titles, while others have not, prompting the local government to conduct verification.

Gasataya is set to meet with concerned agencies and the barangay council to finalize rehabilitation or relocation plans for the fire victims./CJ, WDJ