Fire hit a house and sari-sari store in Purok 1, Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Saturday night, Dec. 13, with authorities estimating the damage at around P675,000.
Police said the fire broke out at around 7:45 p.m. at the house of a 39-year-old woman living with her partner, while she was about to close her sari-sari store.
The Himamaylan police said that the victim was alerted by a neighbor after smoke was seen coming from her house.
The owner immediately went inside the residence and saw the fire starting from the kitchen area before spreading to other parts of the house.
Residents in the area helped put out the fire before personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection arrived, with the fire-out declared at around 8:24 p.m.
Authorities said the fire originated from an extension wire connected to Christmas lights in the kitchen area. No injuries were reported.
The case has been referred to the Bureau of Fire Protection–Himamaylan City for further investigation.*