By CESAR JOLITO III

A fire allegedly caused by a seven-year-old boy playing with a lighter and candle damaged dozens of houses at Purok Lampirong in Bacolod City’s Barangay 2 on Thursday afternoon, March 5, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

The fire started around 1:15 p.m. from the residence of Rosalie Alboroto inside the residential compound.

Authorities said the child was playing with a lighter and a candle inside the house when the fire accidentally started.

In an interview, Bacolod City Fire Marshal Jenny Mae Masip said the boy’s parents were not at home when the incident happened.

The child immediately went outside and called for help after noticing the fire, but the flames quickly spread as many of the houses in the area were built close together and made of light materials.

Firefighters from the Bacolod City Fire Station responded within two minutes after receiving the alarm at 1:16 p.m.

The fire escalated to second alarm status at 1:18 p.m. and was placed under control at 1:23 p.m., before being declared fire out at 1:29 p.m.

BFP-Bacolod records show that a total of 29 residential structures were affected by the blaze, including 20 houses that were totally destroyed and nine that were partially damaged.

The fire displaced 45 families or about 90 individuals.

Despite the damage, authorities reported no injuries or fatalities.

The affected area covered an estimated 1,185 square meters, with initial damage estimated at around P296,250.

Masip clarified that while parents are responsible for supervising their children, the incident is considered accidental in nature.

She also urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children and keep them away from items that could start fires, such as lighters, candles and matches./CJ, WDJ