Caretaker killed in Quiapo blaze

MANILA, Philippines - A male bar caretaker died from suffocation in a four-hour fire in Quiapo, Manila at dawn yesterday.

Leo Baay, caretaker of the Vincent videoke bar along Quezon Boulevard, died from smoke inhalation at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.

Police said bar owner Dante Reyes noticed thick smoke coming from the mezzanine of his establishment at around 4 a.m. as he was about to close the bar. Reyes immediately rushed upstairs and was able to bring out Baay from the servant’s quarter in spite of the heavy smoke.

Red Cross volunteers at the fire scene tried to revive Baay to no avail.

The fire, which reached the third alarm, quickly spread to adjacent establishments, including the MPC Trading Shop. The fire was finally put out at around 8:44 a.m.

Damage to property was placed at more than P4 million. Arson probers are still determining the cause of the fire.