A 70-year-old woman was burned to death, while a 38-year-old man sustained minor burns in separate fire incidents in Bacolod City yesterday afternoon.

Burned to death was Melba Samson who failed to get out of her house in Purok Masagana, Brgy. Taculing, in the city when the fire started about 5:10 p.m. yesterday, fire investigator FO1 Frenie Melgar told the DAILY STAR in a phone interview.

Initial reports, however said, Samson had managed to run out of her house after sensing the fire, but went back to get something.
Melgar said Samson's neighbors told him the victim tried to get out again, but was trapped in the thick bushes in her backyard. She was also suffocated by the smoke and this prevented her from climbing over the fence to save her life.

He said Samson was living alone in her two-storey house since her children are working in Manila.

The fire destroyed Samson's house and damaged that of Mariano Arsenio. Losses to property reached about P300,000, fire reports said.

Samson's remains are now at the Alisbo Funeral Homes.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Bureau of Fire and Protection, Melgar said.

Meanwhile, Ronie Villanueva, of Purok Kamote-kahoy, Brgy. 4, was cooking when the LPG tank of his gas stove reportedly leaked and apparently started the fire that resulted in the incident at about 7:20 p.m.

Villanueva sustained first degree burns in his face and arms, Melgar said.

Another residential house was damaged in Purok Katilingban, Brgy. Mansilingan when fire that reportedly also started from a leaking LPG tank broke out, investigators said.

No one was injured, however, but the fire damaged the house of Jose Poblete. The fire gutted about P200,000 in property, Melgar said.

The fire was contained with the help of the BFP firefighters, Amity and Bacolod-Chinese Chamber Volunteer Fire Brigades, he added.*DMG

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