Crowded residential community

At least 20 families here lost their homes on Monday night after a huge fire razed to the ground a crowded residential community in the area.

A report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) here said a total of 12 residential buildings and boarding houses were destroyed in the hour-long fire that struck a portion of the 1st Block of Santiago Subdivision in Barangay Bula at around 6:25 p.m.

It said the incident only reached the first alarm and was totally controlled by responding fire trucks from the city fire station, Polomolok municipal fire station and local volunteer fire brigades at around 7:15 p.m.

Eduardo Vargas, Barangay Bula chairman, said they could yet determine the cause of the incident that came after another power outage in the area.

He said they initially received reports that the fire, which started at the center portion of the area, was caused by an unattended lit candle that caught fire during the brownout.

“We’re also verifying some reports that it came from a fireworks factory in the area,” Vargas said.

The official said they initially transferred the affected residents, most of whom failed to save any of their belongings, to the barangay gymnasium.

He said they dispatched their health and social workers to attend to the needs of the victims, which included some schoolchildren.

“We already sought help from the city government for the provision of additional relief assistance for the victims,” he said.