Fire hits Mandaluyong

A fire believed caused by faulty electrical wiring hit an apartment complex in Mandaluyong City yesterday, destroying property estimated at P3 million.

Nobody was injured in the fire but it gutted a row of apartments located along Interior street, Nueve de Pebrero, Barangay Mauway.

FO2 Marcos Cabiso said the fire started at the ceiling of the comfort room of an apartment rented by one Allan Hondrade at about 4:25 a.m.

Hondrade claimed the fire was triggered by faulty electrical wiring.

Strong winds fanned the fire toward adjacent apartments made of wooden materials.

"The whole neighborhood tried to battle the fire, but to no avail," said Cabiso, adding that the fire reached the fifth alarm.

Firemen from Mandaluyong city and other parts of Metro Manila responded and put out the blaze, two-hours and twenty minutes later.

At least eight of the 15 apartment units were gutted by the fire, according to owner Sinando Estrada.

Those displaced by the fire were temporarily sheltered at the Neptali Gonzales Sr. High School located in the area.

Meanwhile, another fire destroyed the abandoned David’s Teahouse at the Annapolis Arcade of the Virra Mall complex in Greenhills, San Juan at 8:30 a.m. yesterday.

Arson probers are still determining the cause and damage of the fire. — Non Alquitran