TUBA, Benguet – Donations in cash and in kind continue to pour for the thirty six families composed of one hundred fifty nine individuals who were rendered homeless during a five-hour fire that gutted some twenty six structures at sitio Riverside, Camp4-Camp6 barangay, here, shortly after the New Year revelry.
Various groups and individuals called out for donations of food, clothes, cash and other basic necessities needed by the homeless fire victims in trying to recover from the tragic incident that transpired at around 1:20 am of January 1, 2025.
Arson investigators claimed that the fire started in an abandoned structure made of light materials in the area and immediately spread to nearby structures. The fire was placed under control at around 4:25 am and fire out at around 6:30 am.
Unfortunately, a 39-year old resident of the place who was later identified as Eric Pasio died due to the said fire incident as he was not able to allegedly evacuate from his residence at the height of the fire.
Further, initial estimates showed that more than P10 million worth of properties were torched into ashes due to the said incident.
Personnel of the Tuba fire station, Tuba Municipal Police Station, Benguet Second Provincial Mobile Force Company, Baguio City Police Office, residents and volunteers joined forces to clear the debris from the fire scene while personnel of the Baguio City Jail – male Dorm donated cash and other valuable items to the fire victims.
Most of the displaced residents are now staying with their relatives or have occupied vacant boarding houses in the area while awaiting further developments in their efforts to recover from the said tragic incident.
Barangay and local officials expressed their sincerest gratitude to all those, who in one way or the other, contributed in the suppression of the fire and those who continue to extend assistance to the fire victims for them to be able to recover from the incident that displaced the said residents. By Dexter A. See
