Baby killed in Manila fire

MANILA, Philippines - A baby boy was burned beyond recognition when his mother left him alone and a fire broke out at their house in San Andres Bukid, Manila while she was out yesterday.

Senior Fire Officer 2 John Joseph Jalique said Elena Llames stepped out of their house and was surprised to find their house in flames when she returned. She was able to save her two older children, aged 10 and 11, but when she tried to re-enter the house, the flames prevented her from saving Samuel, six months old.

Elena was in shock after learning that firefighters found that her baby burned to death. Samuel’s father, Crisanto, was at work in Makati when the fire broke started at the second floor of their house at around 10:18 a.m.

The blaze spread to 15 other houses, leaving at least 40 families homeless, and reached fourth alarm before it was put out at around 11:30 a.m. The damage caused by the fire was estimated at P500,000.

Investigators said the fire may have been caused by a kerosene lamp left burning in the Llames house.