Marikina fire leaves 25 families homeless

At least 25 families were rendered homeless when a fire caused by a falling gas lamp hit a residential area at the height of the All Saints’ Day celebration Thursday in Marikina City.

Firefighters estimate that the fire destroyed a total of P500,000 worth of property. Nobody was reported hurt.

Chief Inspector Antonio Razal said the blaze burned down houses at the densely populated Block 74 and 75 in Vergara Compound, Barangay Tumana.

Razal said the fire started at the residence of a certain Boy Calilap after an unattended gas lamp fell on the wooden floor at about 7:30 p.m. Residents said it was too late for them to battle the fire because it was already too large.

Strong winds fanned the fire towards adjacent houses, which were also made of light materials, residents told Razal. The residents instead evacuated their family members and saved their household appliances and personal belongings.

Razal said the fire reached third alarm before it was put out at 10:21 p.m. Firemen from Marikina and neighboring cities battled the fire for three hours.

Authorities said neither Calilap nor his wife were at home when the fire started. The Calilaps’ children, who were left at home, were rescued by firefighters.