10 houses destroyed in Caloocan fire

Christmas will be bleak for more than 30 families after a fire that started with an unattended candle razed their homes yesterday morning in Caloocan City.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Arvin David, Caloocan City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) arson investigator, said the fire started at the second floor of a two-story house owned by Lilia Caparoso at Block 28, Lot 16-A, Phase 3F-1, Barangay 14, Zone 2 in Dagat-Dagatan at around 9:10 a.m.

“According to Lilia, she was in their kitchen preparing their breakfast when she detected thick black smoke emanating from her room,” David told The STAR.

David said the victim left a lighted candle unattended on top of her plastic drawer but failed to put it off when she went out of her room.

The victim, a single parent with three young kids, partially burned her hair when she tried to put out the blaze, David said.

“It was already too late, because the fire quickly spread through the entire house. She salvaged nothing from her belongings but was able to save her three kids,” David also said.

The fire reached fourth alarm, destroying around 10 houses in the densely populated neighborhood before firemen manning at least 20 firetrucks were able to put it under control 30 minutes after.

Two liquefied petroleum gas tanks exploded and there were also initial reports that a boy and a teenage girl were missing, but both were located later.

“Nobody was reported hurt but it would surely be a sad Christmas for some 30 families that were rendered homeless by the fire,” David said.

David said the fire destroyed an estimated P1.5 million worth of property.

Barangay kagawad Vicente Dimacuha complained that the firefighters were late in responding to the scene, but Reyes claimed they arrived on time only to be delayed by the narrow street and the panicking residents.     – Pete Laude