300 families lose homes in Parañaque blaze

MANILA, Philippines — Around 300 families were left homeless in a fire that broke out in a residential compound in Parañaque City on Thursday.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s National Capital Region field office said the fire, which hit a community at the Fourth Estate Subdivision in Barangay San Antonio started at around 12:50 p.m.

Arson probers traced the fire’s origin to a house owned by the Renile family.

The fire reached fourth alarm and destroyed around 150 houses in a 3,000-square-meter lot.

The blaze raged for nearly seven hours before it was put out by firefighters at around 7:34 p.m.

The displaced residents, numbering around 450 individuals, sought shelter at a covered court which was converted into an evacuation center.

Mayor Eric Olivarez and his brother, District 1 Rep. Edwin Olivarez, visited the affected residents yesterday.

There were no casualties during the fire, the BFP said in its report.

Investigators are looking for leads to determine the cause of the fire, which destroyed P750,000 worth of property.

Seventy-five fire trucks and seven ambulances were at the scene during the fire.

Olivarez on Thursday distributed construction materials to 25 families in Barangay Sto. Niño who were affected by a fire last March 27.

The residents received galvanized iron sheets, plywood and other materials needed for the construction of their new homes.