Two die in Calumpit fire

CALUMPIT, Bulacan — A 71-year-old man and a three-year-old girl died in a fire that gutted three houses and a commercial building in Barangay Poblacion here yesterday morning.

Superintendent Arturo Ofrecio, Provincial Fire Marshall, identified the fatalities as Jose Del Rosari and his granddaughter Jessica.

Initial investigation showed that the fire started at around 6 a.m. at the house beside the victims’ residence.

The fire then razed the houses of Jose Del Rosario, Resty Ramos, Ruben Fajardo and the Inang Belen Restaurant owned by James Patag, a brother of former town councilor Amado Patag

All structures were located beside the southbound lane of the MacArthur Highway here.

Fire and police officials are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. Damage to property was initially placed at P2 million.

This is the second fire in Bulacan in three days. — Dino Balabo , Ric Sapnu