In a heart-wrenching incident in Barangay Sicayab, Dipolog City, a young mother, aged 17, and her six-day-old baby succumbed to a fire that engulfed their home. The blaze, which occurred while the mother was sleeping, rapidly spread through the house, constructed from light materials, contributing to the tragic outcome.
The fire, reported to have taken place in the early hours, left the family and community in mourning. The child’s father was not present at the home when the fire erupted. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Dipolog faced challenges reaching the scene due to its remote location, complicating the rescue and firefighting efforts.
“At 4:30 a.m., we responded to the scene. We discovered remains that resembled those of the victims, and the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) confirmed they belonged to the mother and child,” stated FO1 Van Jason Crisostomo, a spokesperson for BFP-Dipolog.
Preliminary investigations suggest an unattended lamp as the potential cause of the devastating fire. In the aftermath, the local government has stepped in to provide necessary assistance to the bereaved family, highlighting the community’s solidarity in facing such tragedies.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by unattended fire sources, especially in homes constructed from highly flammable materials, and underscores the importance of fire safety measures in preventing similar tragedies.