By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has pointed to electrical ignition as the likely cause of a fire that hit Purok Magnolia in Bacolod City’s Barangay 7 past 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12.

Fire investigators said the blaze started on the second floor of a house owned by Larry Peruelo.

BFP-Bacolod Fire Marshal Jenny Mae Masip said the property had been left unoccupied, with only a light left switched on since Sunday, May 10.

The fixture was plugged into an outlet connected to a wooden post.

Authorities noted that the outlet was found loose, which may have caused overheating that eventually triggered the fire.

The owner, Peruelo, reportedly no longer resides in the area, as the property was intended to be converted into a boarding house.

The fire quickly spread and resulted in the total destruction of 21 houses, while five others were partially damaged.

The damage due to the fire was estimated at P530,000.

A total of 81 families, or 198 individuals, were affected by the incident.

Two residents sustained first-degree burns but are reported to be in stable condition.

Injured were siblings 34-year-old Romela Pasaporte, who sustained multiple first-degree burns on her upper and lower extremities, and 22-year-old Romo Pasaporte, who suffered first-degree burns on his left arm./CJ, WDJ