Fire destroys 300 shanties in QC

A six-hour fire caused by an unattended candle seriously injured two persons and destroyed at least 300 shanties along P. Tuazon street in Barangay Tagumpay, Quezon City   Thursday evening, a top fire official said yesterday.

Quezon City fire marshall Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas said the fire, which broke out at about 9:45 p.m., was put under control at about 3:30 a.m.

“The area is inaccessable to firetrucks because of a high fence surrounding the area,” he told The STAR.

He said two persons suffered third degree burns while some 300 families were also displaced by the fire.

Villegas said initial investigation showed the fire was triggered by an unattended candle left in one of the shanties in the compound.

The city’s health and social welfare departments are assisting the displaced families.    – Perseus Echeminada