• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Two siblings, both minors, died, while their grandfather who tried to rescue them was injured early Tuesday morning, when a fire broke out at their house in Purok Lison, Barangay 1 in Bacolod City.
The fatalities were an 8-year-old boy and his 6-year-old younger sister. Their grandfather, Eduardo Gutierrez, 63, suffered burns on his right arm, right side of his face, and left forearm, according to the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP).
The BFP reported that the residence of the victims was totally destroyed by the fire. The value of the damage was placed at P3,000.
Prior to the fire incident, Purok chairman Andy Birzuel reported that there were power outages that started at about 8 p.m. Monday, after a transformer exploded. That prompted some residents in the affected area, the victims included, to use candles.
According to reports, the mother of two minors left them at their house at about 1 a.m. Tuesday, to buy food at a fast food chain while their grandfather, in a neighboring house, was looking after them when the fire broke out.
Gutierrez attempted to rescue his two grandchildren but was injured by the fire.
After the fire was placed under control, the BFP discovered the charred remains of the two victims.
BFP probers are still investigating the cause of the fire.*
