300 families lose homes in Quezon City fire

MANILA, Philippines - At least 300 families were left homeless when a fire razed their shanties in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City Thursday night.

Barangay official Susan Oranga said more than 1,000 people are temporarily staying at a covered court.

Fire marshal Jesus Fernandez said that the fire started at the kitchen of a certain “Larry” at a four-story residential building at around 7 p.m.

A barangay official, who requested anonymity, said that the fire was caused by unattended food being cooked by a certain Napoleon Bantillo.

Fernandez said the fire gutted around 100 shanties before firefighters put it out before 10 p.m.

Volunteer firefighter Manuel Claudio suffered first-degree burns when he was hit by an electric post that collapsed while those injured were Fire Superintendent Cospolo Diaz, Fire Officers 1 Zoilo Nazario and Joseph Batuto, Inspector Eduardo Rollo, Police Officer 1 Zoilo Nazario and Net 25 cameraman Erman del Castillo. 

Claudio was unconscious when he was rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center Thursday night, but he was doing fine as of yesterday morning, Fernandez said.