An early morning fire in Brgy. Taculing, Bacolod City claimed the lives of a mother and her 3-year-old daughter on April 17.
Mengel Itchon, who was a person with disabilities, and her daughter, Jhanella Itchon, were unable to escape the fire that destroyed seven houses and damaged another.
An elderly man, Arthuro Aplacador, also sustained minor burns in the incident.
According to Chief Inspector Stephen Jardelaza, city fire marshal, the child was almost out of the house but went back in to try to save her mother who was unable to get out. When their charred bodies were found, it appeared as though they were reaching out to each other.
The cause of the fire appears to have been unattended cooking embers, and the Bureau of Fire Protection estimated the damages at about P300,000.
Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has visited the scene of the fire to express his condolences and provide support.
“I can share in their grief, it should not happen again,” the mayor said as he discussed plans to create a unified command response center composed of BFP, police, and City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office personnel to ensure more efficient response during emergencies.
