Quiapo fire causes huge traffic jam

A late afternoon fire created a huge traffic jam in the heart of the bustling Quiapo district yesterday, the second consecutive fire to hit Manila in as many days. Alert firefighters, however, prevented the fire from engulfing other structures as it was placed under control some 30 minutes later. No one was reported injured.

Arson investigator SFO1 Rodelio Nelvis said the fire started at the second floor of a residential-commercial structure owned by one "Francisco" at the corner of Caromina and Buenviaje streets in Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo at about 3:12 p.m. The structure housed several families, Nelvis added. The fire reached the third alarm before it was put out at around 3:42 p.m. The cause of the fire is still being determined, while damage to property was placed at around P100,000.

Responding firetrucks blocked Quezon Boulevard, tying up traffic which stretched up to España Boulevard in the north and up to the Manila City Hall in the south.

Meanwhile, some 20 families lost their homes when a fire struck a residential neighborhood on Parcel street in Sta. Mesa, Tuesday night. Residents were also gripped with fear and panic since the fire area was just a kilometer away from the Pandacan oil depot.

Arson investigators said the fire started at around 7:51 p.m. at a two-story house along Parcel street in Sta. Mesa.

Romeo Horando, 49, a resident in the area, reportedly suffered first degree burns while trying to save his belongings. The fire, which reportedly started from an exploding gas stove, was placed under control at around 8:28 p.m. after reaching the fifth alarm.

Damage to property was placed at P300,000.

As this developed, Manila acting Mayor Danilo Lacuna stressed the need to strengthen the fire prevention and safety capabilities of the fire department that covers the Pandacan oil depot, a recognized danger zone in the city.

Lacuna, a longtime advocate of the oil depot’s removal from the heavily populated areas in the city, has led the City Council to enact an ordinance to rezone the area that will not allow oil depots to be located in Manila. – With Evelyn Macairan