Fire destroyed 17 houses in densely populated Purok Riverside in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, Friday morning, June 18.
Bata Barangay Captain Angelito Abaring said “the fire destroyed 15 houses and two others that were not totally burned could no longer be used.”
The houses made of light materials were built very close to each other, he said.
Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, Bacolod Fire Marshall, said they initially counted 10 houses destroyed, estimated to cost P200,000.
The 20 to 25-square meter houses were made of bamboo and nipa, he said.
The fire started at about 10:58 a.m. and was put out at 11:24 a.m., Legaspi said.
He said they were coordinating with the barangay officials and the city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) to determine the total number of houses destroyed and families affected.
Their initial investigation showed that the fire started from the house of Ivy Zulueta but they have not determined yet what triggered it, he said.
The Bacolod DSSD and the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office provided assistance to the fire victims.
Former Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez met with the fire victims and gave them financial assistance.
Good Fellow Foundation and Brixton Volunteers Fire Brigade through the Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade also provided food assistance to the fire victims.*