Thirty-five families composed of 114 individuals were affected by a fire that gutted a residential area at Sitio Dacutan Dacu, Barangay Mambulac, Silay City, early Thursday morning, September 14.

Fire Senior Insp. Jovelyn Zamar, acting fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Silay City, said they received the call shortly before 2 a.m. and dispatched two of their fire trucks.

A total of 32 houses were destroyed.

The fire reached third alarm status, prompting the BFP in Silay City to call for additional fire fighting equipment from the neighboring cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Victorias, and the town of E.B. Magalona.

Bacolod City-based fire volunteer brigades from Chamber and Amity also responded to the call for assistance.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cause of fire and the cost of the damages.

Zamar, meanwhile, explained that there is no truth to the allegations that their fire trucks did not have any water.

He said their fire trucks are always full of water and ready for any fire call.

Zamar also pointed out the difficulty in responding to the area as the street was narrow and some were even occupied illegally by vehicles.*