5 fires hit Manila, Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines - Five fire incidents occurred in Manila and Quezon City yesterday, wherein at least one person was reported injured while more than 100 families were left homeless.

The first fire razed 20 shanties along Samar street in Sampaloc at around 2:10 p.m. Resident Junior Mayo, 44, suffered minor wounds after debris fell on him as he tried to salvage his family’s valuables.

Superintendent Felixberto Abrenica said the 49-minute fire, which reached the fifth alarm, started in the house of Benjamin Flores, who allegedly left unattended a pot of rice he had been cooking. He was reportedly drunk at the time.

As firefighters was about to declare the fire situation under control in Sampaloc, another blaze gutted 46 shanties at another squatter’s colony along Maginhawa street near the De La Salle University (DLSU) in Manila at around 2:30 p.m.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire, which reached the third alarm.

Superintendent Felipe Cason, chief of the Manila Police District-Station 9, said the fire in Malate may have been caused by an unattended candle. The fire was put out at around 3:45 p.m.

The third fire broke out along Capulong street in Tondo at around 3:50 p.m. and put out at around 4:52 p.m.

The fourth fire broke out along Roman street at the corner Claro M. Recto street in Manila.

In Quezon City, a fire of still undetermined origin razed a two-story building that housed a bed and furniture factory and residential and commercial units along Quirino Highway yesterday.

Fire officials identified the factory as the Philippine Bed and Furniture Manufacturing Inc. in Barangay Balumbato. Arson probers initially placed the damage to property at around P10 million.

Reports said the fire started at the ceiling of the stay-in workers’ sleeping quarters on the second floor at around 11 a.m. yesterday. The fire was put out at around 4:30 p.m. – Sandy Araneta, Jerry Botial