Separate fires raze 21 houses, mosque in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - At least 21 houses and a mosque were razed in separate fires that hit Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte and Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay provinces over the weekend, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) regional office said.

The BFP reported that the first incident occurred at the block along Gomez St., Mabini St., and Quezon Avenue in Barangay Barra, Dipolog City Saturday night.

Investigation disclosed that the fire occurred during the brownout at the second floor of the unoccupied house of the late Ranie Pango, in Pango Compound, and rapidly spread to the nearby houses and a mosque about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said no one was killed as the fire razed 20 houses and the mosque before it was contained two hours later by firefighters from the nearby towns of Polanco, Katipunan, Piñan, Roxas and Dapitan City.

The BFP estimated the damage at about P1.5 million. It also displaced 40 families.

Meanwhile, another fire hit in Ipil town, Zamboanga Sibugay the following day when an unattended lighted candle triggered a big fire to a two-storey concrete house owned by Diosdado Santos Balladares. 

The fire started about 8 p.m. Sunday in one of the rooms and quickly engulfed the house before it was put out 30 minutes later before by responding firefighters. 

The BFP said no one was reportedly injured and estimated the damage of the fire at P2 million.