By CESAR JOLITO III

Two people, including an eight-year-old girl, were injured after an early-morning fire razed four residential houses at Purok Magsungay in Bacolod City’s Barangay Singcang-Airport on Thursday, December 18.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Bacolod reported that a 32-year-old man sustained an abrasion on his left foot after he jumped out of a window to escape the burning structure, while the child suffered second-degree burns to her lower abdomen.

Both were among five individuals affected by the blaze, forcing several residents to seek temporary shelter.

No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Fire investigators said the fire broke out at around 4:11 a.m., engulfing a two-story house and three single-story homes.

The blaze quickly spread to neighboring homes, which were constructed of light and concrete materials.

Firefighters from BFP-Bacolod, assisted by volunteer fire brigades, responded to the incident but encountered difficulties in reaching the affected area due to narrow access roads.

Fire trucks were forced to deploy extended hose lines to reach the site.

They managed to contain the flames within 22 minutes, with fire out declared at 4:33 a.m.

Initial estimates placed the damage to property at about P270,000.

Arson investigators are continuing their inquiry to determine the cause of the fire./CJ, WDJ