A fire hit 15 houses and left 57 people homeless in Purok Paglaum, Barangay 17, Bacolod City, at about 7:35 p.m. on Valentine’s Day.
The fire hit houses located in front of the Barangay Hall near the Iglesia ni Cristo Church, Barangay 17 Captain Rogelio Pabiania Jr. said Friday night
The fire started from a boarding house owned by a barangay kagawad, Pabiania said.
He said their initial count showed that the fire hit 15 houses and 57 were rendered homeless.
However, it was dark and firefighters were still in the area so a more accurate count would be available Saturday morning, Pabiania said.
He said the number of homeless persons could increase.
They also have to get a head count of the borders affected, Pabiania added.
The fire allegedly started from a boarding house where a border lit a candle for a child who died from tetanus, he said.
However, fire investigators were still validating the cause of fire, he said.*