Two hurt in 3-hour Malabon fire

Two women were hurt while some 20 homes were razed to the ground in a three-hour fire that hit a neighborhood early yesterday morning in Malabon City.

SFO1 Noe Bragais, arson investigator of the Malabon Central Fire Station, identified the victims as Editha Baldoza, 40, single, and owner of a two-story house that burned down on 145 Crispin street in Barangay Tinejeros; and Flordelyn Aquino, 45, married, of 52-A Crispin street.

Baldoza sustained second degree burns on the face and other parts of the body and was taken to the Tondo General Hospital in Manila for treatment. Aquino sustained slight injuries in the arms and hands while trying to flee from her burning house.

Bragais said the fire broke out at around 3:04 a.m. yesterday even as some 20 fire engines rushed to the scene in no time. A fire-out was declared at 5:58 a.m. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

In Pasay City, a 30-minute fire hit an automotive supplies shop late Friday, causing heavy traffic at the corner of Buendia Avenue and Tramo street.

The fire, started at the ground floor of the two-story MOD Auto Supply at 10:25 p.m.

Fire Officer 3 Renato Recto said the fire did not reach neighboring establishments. No one was reported hurt in the incident.

Most of the merchandise razed by fire were spare parts for Volkswagen cars. The parts were stored on the second floor of the store owned by one Romeo Lim, Recto said.

He said they have yet to conduct a full investigation into the blaze and cannot at this time determine the actual cause of the fire.

"Since there were no witnesses and the building was completely gutted, we have to keep looking for clues," he said.

Meanwhile, an overheated electric fan caused an hour-long fire that hit a residential compound yesterday morning in Parañaque City.

Eight families in six shanties were rendered homeless by the fire that started at exactly 8:33 a.m. from the second floor of the house of one Boy Heramis, located at Switzerland street in Don Bosco.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Federico Gatchalian estimated the cost of damage at P200,000.

No one was reportedly hurt in the fire, which was put out at exactly 9:35 a.m. – Jerry Botial, Pete Laude, Edu Punay