Two men died in separate fire incidents in Pangasinan and Nueva Vizcaya after they were trapped inside their burning homes, authorities said.
In Malasiqui, Pangasinan, the body of a 38-year-old man was found inside his house in Barangay Don Pedro after a fire broke out around 1 a.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Firefighters responded after receiving a call from neighbors. The victim was believed to be alone in the house at the time of the incident.
“Nawawala po ‘yung may-ari ng bahay kaya nagkaroon po kami ng idea na baka nandoon lang din po siya loob. Noong medyo nako-control na nga natin ‘yung fire incident, nakita ng isang bumbero natin na na-trap siya sa loob ng bahay,” Fire Inspector Florence Nastor, acting municipal fire marshal of Malasiqui.
Two abandoned houses nearby, also made of light materials, were damaged in the fire. The blaze was put out at around 2 a.m., while authorities continue to investigate its cause.
In a separate incident, a 74-year-old man died after failing to escape a house fire evening on Sunday, March 22, in Barangay Pinayag, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.
According to police, the victim’s wife was able to help him out of the house, but he went back inside and was unable to get out as the fire spread quickly.
The incident was reported only the next morning due to the remote location of the house, which requires about one and a half hours of travel by car and another hour of hiking. Authorities found the victim’s burned body at the scene.
Investigators said a piece of burning wood used for cooking is believed to have started the fire, which caused about ₱75,000 in damage.
The victim’s wife is now safe and staying temporarily with relatives.
“Ang lagi nating ipinapaalala na siguraduhin natin na maayos ang ating electrical wirings. Kung hindi natin ginagamit ang kagamitan nating de-kuryente, mas mainam po na patayin o tanggalin ang saksakan. And mag-ingat tayo sa paggamit ng kandila, mag-ingat din tayo sa paggamit ng mga kahoy na ginagamit natin sa panluto,” Police Major Odlanyer Endrinal, spokesperson of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Police Office.
