A QUIET dawn in Sitio Sudtunggan Tumoy, Barangay Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, turned tragic when a fire claimed the life of a 68-year-old woman with arthritis early Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.
The fire started around 3 a.m., reportedly caused by a lamp the household had been using for light as the household had no electricity.
Fire investigator FO3 Jeffrey Gerodiaz said one of the family’s pets may have accidentally knocked the lamp over, igniting the blaze that quickly engulfed the small home.
The fatality, identified as Terecita Falcon, was unable to escape, while her partner, who was sleeping near the door, managed to get out.
Gerodiaz said the incident was reported at 5:11 a.m. by the Nerve Command Center. The fire was declared under control at 5:26 a.m. and fully extinguished at 5:46 a.m., following a seven-minute response time from the initial dispatch.
Neighbor Jaime Jadina, 73, said he woke up to his children trying to help put out the flames.
He said the victim’s partner was calling for help to get Falcon out of the burning house, but they were unable to do anything as the fire intensified.
By sunrise, only charred remains stood where the couple’s home once stood. Firefighters later found Falcon’s body in the bedroom.
No animals were killed in the incident. The structure involved was a small wooden hut built on an eight-square-meter lot.
Authorities reminded residents to take extra caution when using open flames or improvised lighting devices, especially in homes without power. / DPC