25 houses razed, families displaced in Bauang fire

By Liezle Basa Inigo

BAUANG, La Union — Eighty five persons from 23 families were affected by a fire in a residential area in Barangay Paringao here Wednesday night, July 13 that razed 25 houses.
    Gov. Raphaelle Veronica “Rafy” Ortega-David said the Provincial Government of La Union, through the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, continue to monitor and exert efforts to account for the number of affected residents.
    The Bureau of Fire Protection, PDRRMO Emergency Response, Bauang police, the municipal government of Bauang, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are at the scene rendering assistance.
    In a statement posted in her Facebook page, David said the immediate order for first responders is to mitigate the spread of the fire, provide relief packs, and, if possible, prepare for temporary shelter and sleeping arrangements.

The temporary evacuation site for those affected was Paringao Elementary School and the Bauang MDRRMO building and aid may be sent to these places.

Fourteen families were said to be sheltered at PES while another family took refuge at the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Office.

Other families were accommodated by their relatives.

Investigations revealed the fire started at 7 p.m. and spread out rapidly as most of the houses were made of light materials.

Fire fighters had a hard time in passing through the narrow ways leading to the burning houses.

“My heart is heavy for our kaprobinsiaan (provincemates). My thoughts and prayers are with you and rest assured that I, together with the PGLU and the municipality of Bauang, will be providing the necessary assistance you require.”

The fire started at 7 p.m. and has been declared fire out.

Nobody was reported killed or injured in the fire that required the assistance of other firemen in the province.

Cause of the fire is yet to be determined.