3 hurt in Sta. Cruz fire

At least three persons, including a 90-year-old Chinese woman, were injured when a pre-dawn fire hit a five-story residential building in Sta. Cruz, Manila yesterday.

Lin Shiu Shing, who suffered a broken foot, was rescued from her room at the back of Unit C-3, Narciso Building on Oroquieta street.

Firefighters said Gina Castillo, 18, and Gredel Ambo, 32 almost passed out due to smoke inhalation. They were taken to the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital.

"Mrs. Lin was in a room at the back of the building. Her room had a sliding window and no grill, so firemen just had to pass through a side street to rescue her," said arson investigator FO3 Jojo Magallanes.

Magallanes said they had difficulty rescuing the two helpers because they were in a room that had windows with grills.

Investigation showed the fire started at about 5:18 a.m. It reached the third alarm before firemen placed it under control at 5:33 a.m. and declared it out at 6 a.m. – Cecille Suerte Felipe