Benguet town abandoned house catches fire on New Year

Tuba, Benguet (January 1, 2025) -- An abandoned house at sitio Camp 6, Camp 4 barangay here reportedly made out of light materials caught fire and spread to nearby houses at around 1:20AM dawn on New Year.

Tuba town police though said, there were no injuries.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, chairperson of the Metropolitan Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay Development Authority (MBLISTTDA) said, the Baguio City Fire Station was one of the first responders at the scene to assist Tuba Fire Station firefighters and villagers.

City Fire Marshal Fire Supt. Marisol Odiver said she immediately dispatched four firetrucks and one ambulance to the site while the Baguio Water District and other volunteers were also on hand to help contain the blaze.

Magalong added that he has instructed City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Officer Charles Bryan Carame to work out with the city council the approval of P300,000 assistance for the 36 families affected when the fire at the abandoned house spread to nearby houses.

Magalong had also met with the Tuba Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council presided over by Tuba Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan on January 1, 2025 to provide inputs on the town's post-disaster program.

Tuba fire investigators are still looking for clues what caused including the extent and amount of damages.

Prompting the fire, Mayor Magalong announced mid-afternoon Wednesday the temporary closure of Kennon Road reportedly to “expedite the clearing of debris”.