AN UNATTENDED cooking triggered a fire that turned four houses into ashes on Sunday afternoon in Capoocan, Leyte, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported.
No one was hurt during the fire incident that lasted over an hour but has left some PHP1.7 million worth of damage.
BFP Capoocan Senior Fire Officer 2 Leo Hernandez said on Monday the blaze burnt the houses of seniors within the town center.
Hernandez said the fire started at the house of Eutequia Makabenta, 88, who fell asleep while cooking.
The fire investigator said Makabenta, who has been living alone, was saved by her neighbor who noticed a fire starting at the kitchen around 1 p.m.
“According to the witness, the elderly, who was awakened by smoke, seemed shocked while watching the growing fire. Makabenta’s neighbor quickly grabbed her out of the house,” Hernandez said in a phone interview on Monday.
Also left homeless were Makabenta’s sister, Clara Paz, 80, and other neighbors Timotea Nicole, 60, and Nelia Aborque, 52.
All of them failed to save any belongings since the fire had already engulfed their houses made of light materials.
Although the houses were near the fire station, firemen were not able to immediately stop the fire due to insufficient water supply from a nearby hydrant.
Firemen got their refill from nearby Carigara town, according to Hernandez.
Five fire trucks from the towns of Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, and Jaro worked together to put out the blaze.
Hernandez said this is the second fire incident in Capoocan town this year.
The first occurred on April 12 in Pinamopoan village where a house was totally burned. (By Elvie Roa)
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