SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna — A fire of still undetermined origin killed a man and destroyed three houses in a compound in Barangay IV-C in this city Wednesday morning.
Police identified the fatality as John Carlo Baldovino, 31, whose charred body was found after the fire.
The fire was reported to the city fire department at 8:30 a.m. Joint teams from the Bureau of Fire Protection-San Pablo City, San Pablo City Filipino-Chinese Fire Prevention and Civic Welfare Association, and the Santo Angel Barangay fire brigade managed to tackle the fire an hour later.
City Fire Marshal Joseph Asi said the fire originated from the more than 50-year old wooden house occupied by the fatality, which eventually engulfed the two other adjoining houses made of wood and light materials.
Asi also said strong winds fanned the blaze that nearly spread to the adjacent Laguna College main campus and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which incurred minor damage on its roof due to the searing heat.
Arson investigators are still assessing the cause of the fire and extent of damage.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the San Pablo City Water District also dispatched technicians to assist firefighters in the “water circuit” sites to ensure water pressure during the fire control operations.
Emergency responders from the Seven Lakes Fire Volunteers Brigade, Barangay VII-D Rescue Team and the San Pablo City Red Cross also provided assistance to affected families and to firefighters. (Ruben E. Taningco/PNA)
