Fires hit Manila, QC, Parañaque

MANILA, Philippines - Around P500,000 worth of property went up in smoke when fires broke out in Manila, Parañaque and Quezon City yesterday.

A fire of unknown origin hit the Juan Luna Elementary School along Tolentino street in España, Manila, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Teachers and school officials were preparing for the opening of classes when the fire started at past 1 p.m.

The blaze reached the second alarm before it was put out at 1:44 p.m.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Robert Moises, 52, and fire volunteer Jimmy Himago, 36, were hurt in the incident.

The BFP said firefighters had to use breathing equipment to penetrate the five-story school building.

Damage to property was placed at P300,000.

The fire caused traffic jams along España Boulevard, Sergio Loyola street and Morayta.

In Parañaque, firemen rescued two persons when a fire hit a condominium building along Roxas Boulevard in Baclaran yesterday morning.

Rescued were Raquel Casino and a certain Mr. Chen.

The BFP said the fire broke out in one of the rooms on the 19th floor   of Chateau De Baie condominium at around 5:30 a.m.

Authorities evacuated the residents as the fire reached the third alarm.

A fire volunteer suffered minor injuries, the BFP said.

Traffic along Airport Road was snarled for two hours due to the fire.

Arson probers have yet to establish the cause of the fire. Damage to property was estimated at P200,000. 

In Quezon City, a fire struck the Sogo motel in Cubao on Thursday afternoon.

Sogo employee Mary Jane Sotaso, 30, was hurt in the fire, according to city fire marshal Superintendent Jesus Fernandez.

Fernandez said a chimney in the motel’s kitchen triggered the blaze.