Probers eye ‘quick combustion’ in QC fire

MANILA, Philippines - A “quick combustion” prompted by heated electric wires was what most probably caused the flames that trapped and killed an entire household in Barangay Bungad on Christmas Day, Quezon City’s top fire official said yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Bobby Baruelo, city fire marshal, said the blaze that razed the row of apartment units owned by the Filamor family on Rest Haven street was most probably electrical in nature.

The charred remains of veterinarian Dr. Carlos Filamor; his wife Corazon; their two children, Carlos Jr. and Eva; Eva’s two sons, Miguel Andrei and Mateo Aaron Mutuc; and family helper Marina Ayon, 48, were recovered after the flames were put out. The tenants of the family staying in the other units managed to get out.

According to Baruelo, the electric lines on the ground level of the unit occupied by the Filamors must have heated simultaneously.  “Because the entire place was already heated, flames were quick to spread,” he said.

Earlier, Baruelo pointed to signs that there was a “jumper” or illegal power connection at the house.

While still inviting witnesses saying there was a neighbor who flew sky lanterns early morning on Christmas day, Baruelo said the theory that one of the paper lanterns could have caused the flames was “not viable.”

“And if indeed it (lantern) actually landed on the house, it should have been on the rooftop,” Baruelo said, noting that the origin of the flames was on the ground level of the unit of the Filamors.