BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – Ten houses, of concrete and light materials, were gutted by fire that hit a residential compound at purok Punay in Barangay 16, this city, at about 5:30 a.m. Sunday.
No casualties or injuries were reported, but a responding firetruck was damaged, according to the city’s Bureau of Fire Protection.
Chief Inspector Bartolome Beliran, BFP Marshall, said the scene of the fire has a narrow passageway, which was the reason why the responding firetruck got stuck in a canal and sustained a damage.
Beliran said the fire left an estimated damage worth of P1 million, as eight houses were totally destroyed while two others were damaged.
Citing initial investigation, Beliran said the cause of the fire may be a lighted candle from thehouse of Ricaredo Del Castillo. Further investigation is still going on, he said.
Beliran said only the children were left in the house as both their parents, Ricaredo himself and partner Corazon Tan, were apprehended in drug buy-bust operation last week.