By Grace Francine Mendoza and Nathaniel Lopera
An early morning fire at Brgy. Old Balara that spread to Pook Dagohoy, UP Diliman left one dead, another missing, and 15 houses burned, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported Monday.
Lead incident commander Marvin Mari reported that at Old Balara, one individual obtained second-degree burns. A 69-year-old senior citizen was reportedly found dead after residents reported her to be missing. At Pook Dagohoy, two families were affected by the fire.
The fire, which reportedly started at Old Balara around 9 a.m., quickly grew and crossed neighboring Pook Dagohoy. Firefighters had the fire under control by 10:08 a.m. and officially declared fire out at 10:49 a.m. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined as of press time.
This comes after yesterday’s unrelated fire incident at Old Balara, which was caused by an unattended candle that affected four houses and 18 families before being contained within an hour.
Mari stated that the BFP is still investigating the cause and counting monetary damages. Firefighters have advised residents not to enter their houses yet due to the lingering smoke as they continue to scout the area in search of individuals who may be trapped or in need of rescue.
On Oct. 25, 2024, a fire also occurred in Pook Dagohoy during typhoon Kristine. The houses of 42 of the 128 individuals who evacuated to the nearby covered court were affected by the fire.
This is a developing story. ●
With reports from Lorence Lozano
