BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
Fire destroyed 10 houses and had damaged 12 others in Purok San Jose Paho, Brgy. Alijis, Bacolod City before noon yesterday.
Alijis Brgy. Captain Diogracias dela Vega said they were coordinating with the City Social Welfare and Development to identify the total number of affected families, as of press time.
Dela Vega said food packs have already been distributed to the affected individuals, who refused to stay at the barangay gymnasium and opted to be with relatives living nearby.
Bacolod City fire marshal, Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, said they received the fire call from Elsa Lahug and immediately dispatched firefighters to the area.
‘SLOPING PATHWAY’
Legaspi said the blaze spread easily as the houses were made of mixed light and concrete materials, adding that they had difficulty penetrating the area because of the sloping pathway.
Initial investigation showed that the fire, of still unknown cause, originated from a room at the second floor of the house owned by Marilyn Encarquez, who was not around during the incident.
Jocelyn Ejercito, one of the affected residents, said she saw the fire emanating from the house of Encarquez and this prompted her to bring her family and their belongings to safety.
The fire was put out past noon with no reported casualties or injuries, although it destroyed at least a P100,000 worth of properties, Legaspi said.*