The fire that destroyed 80 houses and damaged nine in Puroks Katilingban 1 and 2.* Roentgen Baring photo
A fire razed 89 houses in a “red zone” neighborhood in Barangay 39, Bacolod City, on Friday morning, Feb. 27, displacing 849 residents.
The blaze, which tore through the densely populated Puroks Katilingban 1 and 2, destroyed 80 houses and damaged nine affecting 207 families, City Social Welfare Officer Richelle H. Verdeprado said.
It was the second time the area had been hit by a fire, residents said.
The blaze started at 11:06 a.m. in an area that had been tagged as a “red zone” due to its being highly vulnerable to fire, Fire Inspector Jenmarie Tapiru, Bacolod Deputy Fire Marshal, said.
The houses were made of light materials and built close to each other with narrow pathways that hampered firefighting efforts, Tapiru said.
The fire was caused by an electrical ignition due to arcing at the second floor of a boarding house owned by Renalyn Roderos, she said.
Strong winds also caused the fire to spread fast, Tapiru added.
The Bureau of Fire Protection Bacolod estimated the fire damage a P1.74 million.
The affected residents are now being housed at the Brgy. 39 gym.
The Department of Social Services and Development and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are providing hot meals, folding beds, and other relief support to the fire victims, the Bacolod City Communications Office reported.*
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