Fire destroyed a house in Brgy. San Rafael, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Sunday evening, Jan. 11, leaving an estimated ₱648,000 in damages.
Police said the fire broke out at around 5:30 p.m. at the home of a 38-year-old businessman while he, his wife, and their children were resting inside the house.
Police investigation showed that the fire allegedly started from an electrical appliance positioned near containers of gasoline.
Authorities said the flames quickly intensified after the gasoline exploded, forcing the family to flee the house before it was fully engulfed.
Neighbors rushed to help and immediately alerted the Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station and the Bureau of Fire Protection.
Firefighters managed to put out the blaze at around 6:30 p.m., preventing it from spreading to nearby houses.
No injuries were reported, police said.
The Bureau of Fire Protection is still investigating the incident to determine the exact cause of the fire and confirm the extent of the damage.*