By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – A retired teacher died just hours after celebrating her birthday, while her son sustained injuries in a fire at Purok 4, Barangay Aguisan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, on Sunday.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Himamaylan identified the victim as 84-year-old Amelita Gicana.
Fire Officer 2 Ronel Ivan Labansauan, an arson investigator, said they received the fire call around 11:21 p.m. and found nearly 70 percent of the two-story house already engulfed in flames upon arrival.
Labansauan said Gicana’s 54-year-old son attempted to rescue his mother but was overcome by the intense heat. He sustained burn injuries to his head.
Gicana’s body was later found on the floor of her bedroom after firefighters declared the fire out at around 11:58 p.m.
Labansauan noted that the fire may have trapped Gicana after it reportedly started in her room. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
The fire completely destroyed the house, which was made of mixed concrete and light materials.
Gicana had celebrated her 84th birthday that afternoon and went to bed early that evening.
