3 kids die in Caloocan fire

MANILA, Philippines - Three children died when a fire, reportedly caused by unattended lighted candle, broke out at a residential area in Barangay 17, Caloocan City Saturday night.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Benedicto Tudla identified the victims as eight-year-old Ace Kherby Alejandre; Wendy Bagapuro, six; and Gremson Bagapuro, three, Wendy’s younger brother.

Tudla said a lighted candle toppled over in Alejandre’s bedroom at the second floor of their house on F. Acab-Daang Bakal street at around 9:12 p.m. The area did not have electricity at the time, he added.

The boy’s father, Albert Alejandre, 32, panicked and ran outside the house, leaving his son behind, Tudla said. The fire spread to the Bagapuros’ house and four other houses.

When firefighters were put the blaze out at nearly 10:30 p.m., they discovered the burned bodies of the victims.

According to the Alejandres’ neighbors, Albert, whose wife was in the province, was drunk when the fire occurred.