Fire traps Danao couple at home

A 30th wedding anniversary celebration of  a police officer and his wife turned tragic when they died in a fire that  razed their house in  Danao City  yesterday.

SPO2 Felix Banzon Matbagon and his wife Elisa were  both trapped in the second floor of their  wood and concrete house in Mabini Street.

Two others were injured, their daughter Liezel Matbagon Herminanda, who is a public school teacher and husband Antonio, said Chief Insp. Ricky Delilis, chief of the Danao City police.

They suffered 3rd degree burns on both legs.

The injured couple’s  two-year-old  Aizel was carried out safely by Liezel, who escaped from their room in the second floor.

They made it out of the house through the kitchen roof made of galvanized iron.

The baby was first tossed down to people  gathered at the fire scene before the couple  jumped, said Liezel’s younger sister Bernadette Matbagon.

The fire started at 11:55 p.m. in the living room where a Christmas tree with series lights was  unplugged.

Chief Insp. Delilis said authorities are looking into reports that electrical misuse caused the fire.

When the fire broke out, all house occupants were sleeping.

Bernadette said their house had fire exits in the second floor, but that her parents may have been knocked out by the smoke.

Earlier that night,  Bernadette, 23 and her elder brother Alfie, 28, visited their parents’  house, which  they usually do every night.

Bernadette said their parents wanted to attend the dawn mass as part of their anniversary celebration.

Bernadette said before they left the house, her brother Alfie noticed that their mother  unplugged the Christmas tree lights.

She said the fire could have been caused by an overheated electric fan.

The charred body of Elisa was found below their room. The floor had collapsed.

The fire also spread to a nearby house owned by Gloria Angeles. The total damage was pegged at P500,000.

The police officer couple had applied for early retirement after 24 years of service and already stopped reporting to the Danao City police station since October 1.

The bodies of the couple were brought to St. Peter Funeral Homes in Danao City.

Ethel Natera, corporate communications head of the Visayan Electric Co. (Veco), said the use of substandard wires  in  defective Christmas lights is dangerous.

Natera said electric wires  should not  be placed near flammable items to prevent fire.

She said consumers should check for the PS seal in Christmas lights to ensure that what they are buying is of good quality and safe to use.

Christmas lights should not  be left on overnight. A team  of representatives from VECO, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the barangays go around inspecting  houses to search for defective Christmas lights.