2 fires hit Manila in 24 hours

MANILA, Philippines - Two fires hit Manila within 24 hours, authorities said yesterday.

FO1 Louie Ebio said a fire started at around 8:36 a.m. at the ceiling of a two-story house, owned by barangay watchman Michael Cabrera, on Leoncio street in Pandacan.

The fire reached third alarm and destroyed three other houses, leaving seven families homeless, before it was put out at around 9:13 a.m.

Arson investigators estimated the damage to property at P100,000.

At around 1:19 p.m. Thursday, barangay councilman Jackson Dechavez, 40, was hurt while trying to respond to a fire that hit the third floor of the five-story 1188 Shopping Center in Binondo.

The fire reached second alarm before it was put out at around 2:35 p.m. The fire damage was pegged at P50,000.

Investigators have yet to determine the origin of the two fires.