By I. Inojales | 12:20 PM April 19, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY — A fire razed an abandoned house in Barangay Taloto before dawn on Sunday, April 19, with authorities looking into a discarded cigarette as the likely cause.
According to Fire Officer 3 Jenymar Imbong of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the alarm was received at 2:46 a.m., and firefighters responded within a minute. The incident was placed under first alarm.
The burned structure, a one-story vacant house, is owned by Joan Cortes.
Initial findings showed that the owner’s son—reported to have a mental health condition—had been seen entering the house at around 11 p.m. prior to the fire. Witness accounts and scene assessment indicate that the blaze may have started in the room he frequently occupied.
Investigators are considering a cigarette butt as the probable source of ignition, noting the man’s habit of smoking and improperly disposing of cigarette ends.
Authorities also ruled out electrical causes, as the property had no active electricity connection.
No one was injured in the incident, but damage to the structure was estimated at P125,000.
The BFP said further investigation is underway to confirm the exact cause of the fire.
