Fire kills Canadian, 3 stepkids in Agoo

By Erwin G. Beleo and Liezle Basa Iñigo

CAMP DIEGO SILANG, La Union — A elderly Canadian man and his three stepchildren, aged three to 10, were trapped and killed by a fire that razed their house in Barangay San Julian East, Agoo town, this province last June 24.

Chief Insp. Silverio Ordinado, Jr., La Union Police Provincial Office  spokesman, identified the fatalities as George Asprec, 74; Charlie Jhon Higuera, 10; Charmaine Higuera, 9; and Charles Mathew Higuera, 3.

Ordinado said the charred remains of one of the child victims was retrieved by firemen from under a bed on the second floor of the two-storey house

Arson probers said the Canadian and the two other children were found locked in an embrace inside the comfort room.

They were taken to the La Union Medical Center in Agoo but were pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician, Dr. Juan Komiya Jr.

Citing the initial investigation, Senior Supt. Ricardo Layug Jr., police provincial director, the fire broke out at 7:30 a.m. that day and put out an hour later.

An electric fan that overheated is suspected to have caused the fire, Layug said.

George, identified as the stepfather of the children,, tried to save the kids on the second floor; however, the stairs caught fire and the four were trapped, according to BFP Agoo investigations.

Asprec was found with two kids in his embrace inside the comfort room while the other victim was found under a bed.

Asprec’s live-in partner, two of her kids, and their stepchild escaped from the burning house.