Worker killed in factory fire

A stay-in worker was killed in a two-hour fire that razed a furniture factory in Caloocan City yesterday.

Damage to property was estimated at around P250,000.

Chief Inspector Juan Reyes, Caloocan City fire marshal, identified the victim as Winnie Sotto, 27, stay-in helper at the Sunlight Furniture on C. Name street along 4th Avenue in Caloocan City.

Factory owner Noel Quizon, 46, said the victim was a nephew, the son of his first cousin, Linda.

SFO2 Arvin David said the immediate cause of the fire was still being determined at presstime.

Records showed the fire began at the kitchen on the second floor of the two-story factory, former house of Quizon converted into a work shop, at around 6:50 a.m. The fire was declared out at 8:05 a.m.

Quizon was later requested to appear at the fire station after the fire to shed light on the incident. At around 3:25 p.m., PO2 Joel Aquino of the Caloocan police investigation unit appeared informing them that a cadaver was found at the fire scene. Sotto was found in a prone position.

David, SFO2 Zoilo Crisostomo and SFO1 Edwin Buenaventura were dispatched to the scene to verify the reports. There they found the charred remains of Sotto.

Sotto occupied a room at the second floor. Witnesses told probers he turned in late for the night after engaging in some heavy drinking and could have tinkered with the stove but slept on it leading to the fire.

David said an autopsy on Sotto’s body is being conducted at presstime to determine further if there was foul play involved. — Jerry Botial