Fire destroys 50 houses in Sampaloc

MANILA, Philippines - A fire razed about 50 houses along Legarda and Bustillos streets in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday afternoon and left at least 150 families homeless.

The fire started at around 12:50 p.m. and reached the fifth alarm before it was put out at around 2:05 p.m. Several liquefied petroleum gas tanks were heard exploding during the fire, though no one was reported killed or injured.

The houses were near San Beda College and the Legarda station of the Light Rail Transit Line 2. Arson investigators said the fire did not disrupt the LRT 2’s operations. The trains only slowed down in the area due to the thick smoke.

Firefighters reportedly had a hard time maneuvering in the residential area due to narrow streets and thick smoke.

Some of the firetrucks had to pass through the San Beda College compound in order to reach the burning houses, which made of light materials and wood.

Many residents appeared to panic as they tried to save their belongings, firefighters said.

Several Chinese volunteer firefighters were also seen in the area, aside from firemen from the Manila Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The BFP earlier appealed to the public to take precautions against fires as the New Year approaches.

As of press time yesterday, authorities were investigating the cause and origin of the fire.

2 firemen hurt in paint store blaze

Two volunteer firemen were injured while battling a fire that hit a paint store in Marikina City yesterday.

Dennis Manlahat and Emmanuel Aclan of the Marikina and Cubao Fire Volunteer groups, respectively, sustained burns on their faces when a paint container exploded. They were sent home after being treated at the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Noel Alarcon of the Marikina Fire Department said the fire started at the second floor of the Cartier Paint Center at the corner of Gil Fernando Avenue and Marcos Highway in Barangay San Roque at about 10:50 a.m. yesterday.

Alarcon said successive explosions rang out in the area where paint and other chemicals were stored.

The fire reached the fourth alarm before it was put under control at around 12:12 p.m.

Alarcon said they were still investigating the cause of the fire and the amount of property damage. – With Non Alquitran