By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – An estimated P1.2 million worth of properties went up in smoke when a fire gobbled eight commercial establishments at Barangay San Pedro, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental last Saturday.
Senior Fire Officer (SFO)1 Jonathan Bernardez of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Binalbagan, said the fire erupted at an eatery around 11:25 p.m.
Bernardez said the likely origin of the fire was the pork stew the eatery owner left on a charcoal stove after visiting a funeral wake.
“Usually, gina bilin man lang na kuno nila ang nilaga sa uling mag sira sila,” he added.
The fire immediately spread to neighboring eateries and sari-sari stores which were made of light materials, Bernardez added.
Some motorcycles and tricycles parked nearby were also destroyed in the fire.
No injuries were reported. The BFP totally quelled the fire around 12:05 a.m.
