Fire in Talisay ignited by hair dryer

In the heart of Talisay City's Sitio Laguna, Barangay Biasong, a blazing inferno raged through Purok Mahogany on a scorching Wednesday afternoon, April 30, 2025. This catastrophic fire reducing 12 houses to ashes and partially damaging another, led to an estimated P675,000 in damage and left numerous families homeless.

The incident brought chaos to the community, with the Talisay City Fire Station receiving a call at 5:16 p.m., and firefighters arriving at the scene six minutes later, only to find houses already engulfed in flames. The close proximity of the structures played a significant role as the fire quickly escalated, prompting the fire department to raise the first alarm at approximately 5:20 p.m. and subsequently the second alarm at 5:29 p.m. Fire trucks from neighboring cities and barangays in Cebu City rushed to the area to provide additional water supply. The brave firefighters managed to bring the fire under control by 5:54 p.m. and declared it fully extinguished by 6 p.m.

Initial investigations suggest a hair blower being left plugged in as the likely culprit behind this devastating blaze. Nilo Pardillo, the owner of the house where the fire originated, shared that his grandchild admitted to leaving the appliance plugged in after use, as she left the house to watch a volleyball game. With the overarching priority to minimize fire risks, adhere to these precautions:

Unplug immediately after use: Make a habit of unplugging your hair dryer as soon as you're done using it. This simple act reduces electrical short-circuit risks and prevents overheating.
Check for recalls and defects: Keep up-to-date on recalls, as some models may lack crucial safety features that can lead to electrical faults or fire risks.
Avoid cord damage: Store your hair dryer without twisting or kinking the cord to prevent insulation wear. Replace units with frayed cords immediately.
Use non-flammable surfaces: Operate your hair dryer only on heat-resistant surfaces, away from materials like towels, bedding, or curtains that could contact the heating elements.
Verify safety certifications: Choose hair dryers certified by UL/ETL to ensure built-in thermal cutoffs and circuit protection.
Monitor for overheating: If your hair dryer feels excessively hot, or has a burning plastic smell, or shows signs of discoloration, replace it immediately.

For comprehensive safety, arm yourself with smoke detectors near laundry and bathroom areas, and ensure that you always have an ABC fire extinguisher at hand wherever electrical appliances are used.

The devastating fire that occurred in Talisay City's Barangay Biasang, Sitio Laguna, on Purok Mahogany, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, partially damaged another 12 houses, leading to an estimated damage of P675,000.
The fire incident on Wednesday prompted firefighters from Talisay City Fire Station and neighboring cities in Cebu to rush to the scene, with the charred remains of the houses in Barangay Biasang serving as the evidence of the fiery event.
Initial investigations suggest a hair blower left plugged in might have caused the fire that destroyed several houses in Barangay Biasong, Talisay City on Wednesday, leaving numerous families homeless.
Nilo Pardillo, the owner of the house where the fire originated, said his grandchild admitted to leaving the hair blower plugged in after use, leading to the painful Wednesday event in Talisay City's Barangay Biasang, Sitio Laguna.