Bacolod City Grapples with Weekend Fire Incidents Destroying 20 Houses
BACOLOD. A succession of fire incidents struck Bacolod City over the weekend, resulting in the destruction of at least 20 houses across two separate barangays. The blazes, which occurred on Sunday and Monday, caused significant property damage but fortunately resulted in no injuries or casualties, according to local authorities.
First Fire Incident in Barangay Singcang-Airport
Records from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bacolod indicate that the initial fire broke out around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Purok 3 Batad, Sitio Magsungay, Barangay Singcang-Airport. The blaze originated at the residence of Franco Sanz and rapidly spread to neighboring houses constructed from light and concrete materials.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the flames by approximately 4:59 p.m., but not before it had razed seven houses. Of these, four were completely destroyed, while three sustained partial damage. The incident resulted in an estimated property loss of P15,000.
Second Fire Incident in Barangay 26
In a separate incident, another fire erupted around 5:20 a.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026, at Purok Masanag, Barangay 26, Bacolod City. This blaze started at the house of Linda Barba and similarly spread quickly to adjacent homes made of light and concrete materials.
Response teams, including several BFP fire trucks and volunteer units, faced challenges due to narrow passageways that hindered access. Firefighters were forced to pull and connect water hoses over extended distances to reach the affected properties. The fire was finally put out around 5:55 a.m., but it had already destroyed 13 houses. Nine of these were completely razed, and four were damaged, with property damage estimated at P150,000.
Response and Investigation Efforts
The BFP raised a second alarm during the Barangay 26 incident, as the fire impacted at least 30 families comprising 60 individuals. Arson investigators are currently conducting further inquiries to determine the precise causes of both fires.
In the aftermath, the city government, with assistance from the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), provided food packs to the affected individuals. These families are temporarily staying at evacuation centers set up in the barangays.
These incidents follow a previous fire in Barangay 10, Bacolod City, on January 24, 2026, which destroyed at least 34 houses, highlighting ongoing fire safety concerns in the area.
