Extension cord, not Christmas lights, caused Isabela fire

ALICIA, Isabela—A defective extension cord of a videoke machine caused the Christmas Day fire that killed five people, including two children, according to arson investigators.

Grief spread through the town for the Blanza and Palo families, whose house burned on Sunday dawn, hours after they ended their Christmas Eve noche buena.

Fire inspectors initially suspected faulty wiring connecting Christmas lights for the 2 a.m. fire that claimed the lives of brothers Mark Jendel Blanza, 5, and Daniel Salvador Blanza, 7, their grandmother Teresita, 49, their aunt, Jennifer, 26, and Ariel Gulan, a house help.

“The fire department and the Isabela Electric Cooperative-I linemen gave us their findings and they confirmed that the cause of the fire was the defective extension cord used [for] the videoke machine,” said Senior Superintendent Franklin Moises Mabanag, Isabela police director.

Investigators theorized that the family used the videoke machine on Christmas Eve before they all decided to rest for the night, Mabanag said.

Four of the five survivors are now out of danger, according to doctors.

Salvador Blanza Sr., a dry goods trader and grandfather of the two children, remained at the intensive care unit of the De Vera Hospital in Santiago City. He injured his legs when he tried to kick the grilled windows of the burning house as he tried to rescue his family.

A surviving grandson, Demi Samuel, 5, is recuperating at the Tomas Cacal Hospital where he was transferred after being treated at the Paguila Hospital on Dec. 25. Demi is the twin brother of Mark Jendel.

Blanza’s brother-in-law, Renato Palo, 50, from San Guillermo town, his wife, Jengie, 38, and their daughter, Regielyn, 16, have also been declared safe by doctors at the Tomas Cacal Hospital.

The fire also destroyed 150 packages containing rice, grocery items, kitchen utensils, canned goods and clothing, which the Blanza family intended to distribute to friends, relatives and carolers on Christmas Day.

“The Blanza family members were known philanthropists,” said Baldovino Valdez, a townmate. Villamor Visaya Jr., Inquirer Northern Luzon

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