Lightning starts warehouse fire

MANILA, Philippines - A fire initially blamed on lightning broke out at a slum area, gutting down a warehouse amid heavy monsoon rains early yesterday.

Chief Inspector Rodrigo Reyes, Malabon fire marshal, placed the damage at over P2 million.

Firefighters said the fire started at about 3 a.m. at a warehouse along Rivera street in Barangay Tañong. The warehouse allegedly stored finished handicraft products.

Arson investigators are still verifying claims of local residents that lightning hit the warehouse shortly before a fire broke out.

Firefighters reportedly had great difficulty negotiating the flooded streets on the way to the area so the fire had already reached the fifth alarm when they arrived.

Reyes said no one was reported killed or injured in the fire.