TWO persons died in a fire that razed a two-story house in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Tuesday, June 30.

Police Major Helen Galvez, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the fatalities as Fitty Mae Paderangga, a house helper, and her two-year-old son, Elwood.

Galvez said the mother and son fatalities were trapped as they were in deep slumber at the second floor when the fire broke out around 2:10 a.m. Monday and rapidly engulfed the house of Manolo Quiñones in Purok Palmera in San Jose village, Pagadian City.

Galvez said investigation showed the fire started at the dirty kitchen as a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove was left unattended.

She said the fire investigator estimated the worth of property damaged at P500,000. (SunStar Zamboanga)