BACOLOD CITY – One-hundred six families or 424 individuals lost their homes in a fire in Barangay 5, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Friday night, September 6.

A FIRE hits a residential area in Barangay 5, San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on Friday night, September 6. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Rene Gustilo Facebook)

Fire Officer 3 Joseph Earl Solivio, chief arson investigator of the San Carlos City Fire Station, said the fire that gutted at least 80 houses originated from a two-story house at 8:44 p.m.

The fire spread to neighboring houses mostly made of light materials, Solivio said.

Solivio said that firefighters had difficulty entering the area and the fire reached the third alarm due to the size of the affected area.

The fire, the biggest in San Carlos City so far this year, affected a 3,000-square meter area.

Fire out was declared at 10:27 p.m. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and Barangay 5 are validating the number of the affected households.

The city government has provided fire victims with food and non-food items. They are temporarily sheltered at the gymnasium of Barangay 5.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-San Carlos City is still determining the cause of the fire.

Mayor Rene Gustilo was at the scene of the fire and checked the situation of affected residents.

“My heart breaks for the families whose homes have been lost to the fire,” Gustilo said and recalled that he also lost his home to a fire earlier this year.

“I understand the pain and uncertainty you're feeling right now. As a community, we will stand together to rebuild what has been lost. We will get through this together,” the mayor said.

He urged people to help fire victims by donating clothes, food, or financial support.