Massive Fire in City Proper Destroys More Than 60 Homes, Worth Over 2 Million Pesos
ILOILO CITY – Residents of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala in City Proper were awoken by a raging fire that broke out early Saturday morning, April 29, 2023. According to Senior Fire Officer 01 Jake Solis, the Arson Investigator of Iloilo City Bureau of Fire Protection, the blaze started at around 8:38 a.m. and lasted for more than an hour, engulfing more than 68 homes in the area.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control at around 9:24 a.m. and completely extinguished it by 10:36 a.m. However, the damage had already been done. Out of the 68 homes affected, 44 were completely destroyed, while 34 were partially damaged. The fire consumed around 1,500 square meters of light materials, resulting in a loss of over 2.2 million pesos.
The blaze reached the fourth alarm, prompting all fire trucks in the city, including volunteer firefighters, to respond to the scene. Solis said that they had difficulty entering the area due to the narrow streets and strong winds that fanned the flames.
Based on their initial investigation, they found several possible causes of the fire, including unattended cooking, electrical problems, and an unattended candle. They are still investigating to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Three people sustained minor injuries while responding to the fire, but there were no reported casualties. However, 106 families, comprising 389 individuals, were affected by the blaze, according to Social Officer 01 Sara Panello of the City Social Worker and Development Office (CSWDO).
Panello said that the CSWDO would provide financial assistance of 10,000 pesos to families whose homes were totally gutted and 5,000 pesos to those whose homes were partially damaged. Several local businesses also provided aid in the form of food and water for the affected residents.
Despite the challenges, Panello and her team continue to serve the residents of City Proper, working tirelessly to provide comfort and assistance to those who were affected by the devastating fire.
