Fires hit 3 MM slums

MANILA, Philippines - At least 2,000 families lost their homes as three fires broke out only hours apart in slum areas in Caloocan, Malabon and Manila since Sunday afternoon.

In Caloocan, a fire broke out at past 5 p.m. Sunday and razed four barangays in Grace Park before it was put out 12 hours later.

The blaze allegedly started at the house of Jojo Esperida at the BMBA Compound on Maria Clara street. The fire reached general alarm and destroyed around 500 homes in Barangays 117, 118, 119, and 120 before it was put out at around 4 a.m. yesterday, Senior Fire Officer 1 Benedicto Tudla said.

Shortly before midnight Sunday, volunteer firefighters found the charred body of a man only identified as “Ricky.”

Tudla said four residents, Barangay 120 chairman Antonio Duran, were injured during the fire, but several firefighters were beaten up by residents who tried to grab the hoses and direct the flow of water to their burning homes.

Three evacuation sites were filled with fire victims lining up for food and water.

“It will take at least a week before things would normalize, but the local government will make sure that the necessary assistance will be given to the victims,” Caloocan Mayor Oscar Malapitan said.

Divided attention

As firefighters in northern Metro Manila were busy containing the first fire, another blaze broke out in Tonsuya, Malabon City at around midnight, forcing the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to divide its personnel.

At least 200 houses were destroyed and more than 1,000 families were affected, according to Senior Superintendent Oscar Comar, BFP-National Capital Region assistant regional director for operations.

The fire reached Task Force Charlie – meaning firefighters from other districts in Metro Manila were also deployed – before it was put out at around 5 a.m. yesterday. Three persons were treated for second-degree burns.

Investigators estimated property damage at P2 million, Comar said.

In Port Area, Manila, the fire started at a refrigerator surplus store just before noon yesterday.

Inspector Generoso Juico, commander of Arroceros fire sub-station, said the flames quickly spread through stores and shanties located around the Manila Police District’s traffic unit and Philippine Red Cross annex.

The fire reached third alarm before it was put out nearly an hour later.

Arson investigators have yet to establish the amount of damages incurred and the cause of fire.

No one was reported hurt in the incident. – With Aie Balagtas See