By CESAR JOLITO III

At least 71 families were left homeless after a fire struck Purok Ramon Magsaysay in Bacolod City’s Barangay 14 on Tuesday afternoon, April 21.

The Bureau of Fire Protection said at least 22 houses were destroyed while 10 others were damaged, displacing about 289 individuals.

The blaze, which broke out around 3:14 p.m. from a house owned by Regie Doronilla, rapidly spread to nearby homes made of light and mixed materials, affecting densely packed structures.

The fire prompted a second alarm and was declared under control at 3:52 p.m.

Firefighters, aided by volunteer units, encountered difficulty reaching the site due to narrow passageways, forcing them to extend hoses from accessible areas.

No injuries or fatalities were reported, but damage to property was estimated at P4.5 million.

Authorities said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Displaced residents are temporarily sheltered at the Education and Training Center School-III, while the city government has begun distributing assistance.

Richelle Villaprado, head of the Department of Social Services and Development, said food packs and a mobile kitchen were deployed, with personnel conducting ongoing validation and monitoring of affected families.

Financial aid is also being processed, with P15,000 allotted for families whose homes were destroyed, P10,000 for those with damaged houses, and P5,000 to P7,000 for renters, depending on assessment./CJ, WDJ