Sunday, March 30, 2008 Fire in Boljoon traps, kills girl; sister blamed for blaze
A FOUR-year-old girl perished in a fire after her five-year-old sister was left by herself outside, playing with dried coconut leaves under their hut in the southern town of Boljoon.
Melissa Garganta, who suffers from polio, was trapped inside their hut last Friday morning when her sister accidentally set fire to their house in Sitio Danao, Barangay Lower Becerril, Boljoon.
Their mother Elenita had gone to a neighbor’s house to wash their clothes while their older brother and sister were at school.
Occupants
They were the only occupants of the house, as their father reportedly left them.
Boljoon Fire Marshal SFO1 Jundy Deposa said neighbors would not be able to see the house even if it was on fire because it was hidden among the hills of Becerril.
The town’s firefighters were not even aware of the fire.
Police station
He said Elenita’s sister-in-law Erlindo Rollon appeared at the police station about two hours after the fire and informed them of what happened.
When they reached the house, it was already razed.
Deposa said that Becerril is some three kilometers away from the town proper.
Steep climb
From the road to the Garganta’s house, they had to walk 500 meters. He added that it was a steep climb to their house.
Deposa explained that the Gargantas cooked their food under their hut.
In order to save on kerosene and matches, they usually don’t put out the fire so that it is ready for the next time to cook.
Deposa said that the victim’s sister was playing with the fire and accidentally set fire to a bunch of dried coconut leaves.
Light materials
The fire quickly spread to the floor of the hut, which is made of bamboo slats. Because the house was made of light materials, the flames quickly spread.
Melissa could reportedly crawl around the house to get around.
However, Deposa believes she panicked and was confused about where to pass because she was enveloped in thick smoke. Deposa added that they had to walk far to get water.
They needed the water to clear the area and retrieve Melissa’s body from the rubble. (MEA)
