Sixty-four families, consisting of 256 individuals were rendered homeless by a fire that hit the Caballero Subdivision in Barangay 2, San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, at about 4:45 a.m. Saturday.

A total of 32 houses were destroyed, and eight were damaged by fire, that lasted for over an hour, Joe Recalex Alingasa Jr., San Carlos City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council officer, said yesterday.

Initial investigation showed that the fire may have been electrical in nature. It started at the house of a certain JR Santillan, and spread to others nearby, Alingasa said.

He said about 70 percent of the houses destroyed were made of light materials. The fire was placed under control at about 6:05 a.m.

No casualties or injuries were reported, but three persons suffered from hypertension, Alingasa said.

About P1.5 million worth of properties were damaged, he also said.

The fire survivors, who are now staying at the Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School in the city, urgently need sleeping mats, blankets, pails, eating utensils, clothing, toiletries, among others.

Anyone who wishes to send help, may course their donations through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Alingasa said.

Meanwhile, another fire, also believed to be electrical in nature, hit two houses in Purok Masagana, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City, at about 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

The house of Jesus Bernabe Berezo was destroyed, while the adjacent house of Jonalie Hughs was damaged. About P80,000 worth of properties was destroyed, records from the Bacolod Bureau of Fire Protection, showed.

The fire started at the stockroom of the house of Berezo, records also showed.*SGG

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