Fire leaves Peñablanca family homeless; 3 children lose school supplies, family cries for help

PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan — A family in Barangay Nannarian, Peñablanca is appealing for public assistance after a fire reduced their home to ashes, leaving them with nothing but hope that kind-hearted individuals can help them rebuild their lives.

According to a Facebook post by Marisan Pagalilauan Tuppil, a relative of the family, the house of Mary Rose Agdamag Camarao and Benjamin Cabalza Daniel was destroyed by fire on July 28 after the blaze reportedly started in one of the bedrooms. The flames spread rapidly, leaving the family with no time to save any of their belongings.

Among those hardest hit are the couple's three daughters—a Grade 10 student, a Grade 1 pupil, and a one-year-old child—who lost all of their school supplies, clothing, and personal belongings just weeks before the opening of classes.

Relatives are now appealing for donations of school supplies, clothing, and other basic necessities to help the children continue their education despite the tragedy.

"PLEASE HELP us! Nasunugan po ang pinsan ko. Nag-start ang sunog sa kwarto. WALA PO NAISALBA… Need po ng mga bata ng gamit lalo na school supplies. May 3 kids po sila… Baka lang po may gamit tayo na pwedeng ma-donate sa kanila. WALA po silang na-save," Tuppil wrote.

Fire incidents continue to rise

The incident comes as fire cases continue to increase across the country.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), 4,092 fire incidents were recorded nationwide during the first quarter of 2026, a 28-percent increase from the 3,184 cases reported during the same period last year.

Despite the increase in fire incidents, fire-related deaths declined from 122 to 100, while estimated property damage dropped from ₱2.66 billion to ₱2.15 billion.

The BFP said electrical faults remained the leading cause of fires nationwide, followed by incidents involving open flames, embers, and sparks. Authorities continue to urge the public to observe fire safety measures and regularly inspect electrical wiring and appliances to help prevent similar incidents.

For the Camarao-Daniel family, however, the immediate priority is rebuilding their home and ensuring their children can return to school with the supplies they need. As they begin recovering from the tragedy, they remain hopeful that the generosity of the community will help them get back on their feet.

Those who wish to extend financial assistance may send donations through the GCash account of Marisan Pagalilauan Tuppil at 0917-689-0079.