Fire destroyed six houses and damaged four others in Brgy. 3, Bacolod City, at about 1:40 p.m. yesterday causing an estimated P700,000 in damages.

Fire Officer 1 Jerson Ganava, who sustained a cut on his finger, and resident Ryan Vargas, 31, who suffered first degree burns, were hospitalized, City Fire Bureau deputy marshal Insp. Publio Ploteña said

Ploteña said they received a call from a concerned citizen at about 1:50 p.m. informing them that some houses in Purok Cereza North in Brgy. 3 were on fire.

The  Bacolod BFP and the firefighters of the Chinese Chamber and Amity fire volunteer brigades were then sent to the area and were able to put the fire out at about 2:23 p.m., almost 30 minutes after it started, he said.

Residents, who were surprised to see the fire rapidly spreading from one house to the other, scramble to save their belongings.

Station 2 policemen led by Chief Insp. Noel Polines and the members of the Bacolod City Police Office Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force, who were deployed in the nearby Brgy. 2, also helped in rescuing the affected residents and manning the traffic.

An initial investigation report showed that the fire started from the residence of Roberto Mabella, when his wife failed to put out live embers in their kitchen after she cooked.

Aside from Mabella’s residence, the houses of his brother Romeo Mabella and his neighbors Dante and Merlyn Macalalag and Demetrio Tinga were also destroyed.

The houses of Hermilo Ballares, Eva Sablan, Emmanuel Iwag and Susan Pareñas were  damaged by the fire.

Rosalinda, 27, Romeo Mabella’s wife, said she and her husband were sleeping when they were awakened by the huge fire. She said they did not know what to do and where they would stay. They were unable to save any of their belongings.

Barangay 3 Captain Ricky Filoteo said those who lost their houses in the blaze can temporarily stay at their barangay hall.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson  said that the city government will provide financial assistance for them.*APN

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