A fire hit Barangay Banuyo in Pilar, Sorsogon, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, leaving 353 families homeless after 260 houses were reduced to ashes.

Authorities believe faulty electrical wiring may have triggered the fire, which spread quickly among the coastal community’s homes, mostly made of light materials.

The fire broke out at around 12:24 p.m. in Purok 1, engulfing nearby houses rapidly.

Firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) from Pilar and nearby areas, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other emergency responders worked together to battle the flames, which reached the third alarm before being declared under control at 2:08 p.m.

No casualties were reported.

Emergency teams were immediately deployed to assist the residents affected.

Evacuees have sought temporary shelter at Banuyo Elementary School, Barangay Banuyo Covered Court, and Bonifacio Covered Court.

To support the displaced families, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol released P4 million worth of emergency aid.

The assistance includes family food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, drinking water, and tarpaulins for temporary shelter.

DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio personally visited the evacuation sites to oversee relief distribution and assess further needs.

Mayor Carolyn Sy-Reyes of Pilar also called for community support and urged assistance for the affected households.

In a Facebook post, she expressed deep gratitude to the volunteers and organizations that responded swiftly to the crisis.

Sy-Reyes also acknowledged the support of the BFP-Special Rescue Force, Pilar Municipal Police Station (MPS), the Provincial Government of Sorsogon, the Philippine Red Cross-Sorsogon Chapter, Hydrolife Pilar, and multiple fraternity groups who extended aid.

"Your kindness and humanity remind us all of the strength we have bilang sarong komunidad," Sy-Reyes said.

"Your efforts made immeasurable difference especially to the lives saved, making this incident zero casualty," she added.

The local government and various agencies continue to coordinate efforts to provide long-term aid and help families recover from the tragedy.

The investigation continues to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.

Authorities remind residents to practice fire safety precautions to prevent similar incidents in the future.