Kapangan, Benguet – A fire that engulfed a two-storey house in Sitio Proper, Barangay Datakan, Kapangan, claimed the life of a person with a disability (PWD) on the night of October 1.
Senior Fire Officer 4 (SFO4) Christopher Sinong of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Kapangan confirmed that the victim, identified as Ransom C. Awas, a senior citizen, was alone in the house when the fire broke out.
Firefighters responded to the call at around 9:00 PM but were unable to save the victim or salvage any belongings.
The fire caused an estimated P270,000 in damages.
SFO4 Sinong urged residents to be vigilant by ensuring no cooking appliances are left unattended and by having electrical wiring regularly checked by professionals to avoid fire hazards.
This incident marks the first recorded residential fire in Kapangan this year.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.