Trader killed in fire

A 50-year-old businesswoman died in a fire that hit a residential building in Las Piñas City early yesterday.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Noel Consignado, arson investigator, identified the victim as Imelda Olivera, a resident of 1010 Lira street, Phase 11, Moonwalk Village, Talon 5, Las Piñas.

Consignado said Olivera was a tenant at the residential building owned by a certain Wilma Cantebo. The fire started at around 4:15 a.m.

Olivera was already exiting the burning building when she decided to go back inside to get her jewelry and cash. By then, the flames had already spread, trapping Olivera.

Seventeen-year-old Ruby Arevalo, Olivera’s niece, sustained first-degree burns on her left hand while fleeing the building.

Initial investigation showed that faulty electrical wiring was the cause of the fire, which started in the living room and spread to other parts of the unit.

Six firetrucks were sent to the area to help put out the blaze which reached the first alarm. It was contained at around 5:30 a.m.

Damage to property was placed at P2 million. – Rhodina Villanueva