FIRE AND LOOTING: A devastating fire swept through a residential area in Bacoor City on Sept. 10, 2024, leaving nearly 1,000 families homeless and some residents victimized by looters.

The blaze, which occurred in Sitio Kanluran, Zapote 3, Barangay Longos, was declared under control at 2:13 p.m. Tuesday.

However, the fire’s aftermath was marred by reports of theft, with some residents claiming that looters took advantage of the chaos to steal valuables.

According to eyewitnesses, the thieves targeted homes and stole items such as TVs, cellphones, and even sacks of rice and cash.

“They stole from us even as our homes were burning,” said one resident, who declined to be named. “I saw people who didn’t live here stealing from our homes. They took sacks of rice and money.”

Another resident corroborated the account, saying, “I saw people who weren’t from around here stealing from our homes. They took advantage of the situation to steal whatever they could.”

The Bacoor City Police are investigating the reports of looting, although no official complaints have been filed.

“We don’t have any reports of theft yet, but we’re verifying the claims,” said Police Capt. Junray Caimor of the Bacoor City Police. “We encourage the victims to come forward so we can assist them.”

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is investigating the cause of the fire, which authorities said spread quickly due to the use of light materials in the construction of the homes and strong winds.