BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bureau of Fire Protection responded to a fire call at about 8:27 a.m. yesterday in Vista, Alegre, Bacolod City due to a fire incident that was started by a 13-year-old boy with down syndrome.
Bacolod Fire Marshall Chief Insp. Rodel Legaspi yesterday said the fire started in the western portion of the bedroom of Jerry Gamilla in Block 27, Lot 26 at the Vista Alegre Relocation Site after he left his house with his 12-year-old son to buy food for their breakfast.
Legaspi, however, said that upon his return, Gabilla tried to put out the fire that was started by his 13-years-old son who was left alone in their house since his wife went to San Dionisio, Granada. Both his sons have down syndrome.
They believe the older son used a match to burn the foam mattress of the couple. He only sustained a blister on his right thumb, while the estimated damage caused by the fire is only about P1,000, the fire marshal said.
Meanwhile, Legaspi said the initial damage of the fire that razed three classrooms of the Mansilingan Agro Industrial High School in Mansilingan last week is about P200,000. This only covers modules for online classes and does not yet include the structural damage.
He said the cause of fire was electrical in nature, caused by leaking roofs especially when it rains since the school building is very old.*
