MANILA, Philippines — Eleven people were injured and around 200 families were left homeless when a fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay Culiat, Quezon City on Sunday night.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)’s National Capital Region field office said the fire started at around 9 p.m. and reached fifth alarm.
Arson investigators said the blaze hit two shantytowns along Vargas Lane and Visayas Avenue, destroying around 50 houses.
Five of the injured were firefighters, namely Inspector Miles Valdez, Senior Fire Officer 3 Renato Roque and Fire Officers 1 Ronnie Racuyal, Jade Medrano and Robert Vincent Angeles IV. They were treated for various injuries such as second-degree burns, puncture wounds and a dislocated shoulder.
The other injured were civilians Lodovico Zamora, Lerme Lumbay, Raymond Bacatan, Michael Catapat, Jonna Oliva and Narciso Elardo.
Barangay officials said some 200 families who were displaced in the fire have sought shelter in two evacuation centers.
City fire marshal Senior Superintendent Aristotle Banaga said the fire originated in the middle of one of two residential compounds, which made firefighting operations difficult for them.
“Nahirapan din tayo doon sa pagladlad ng mga fire hoses natin (We had difficulty deploying the fire hoses),” he said in an interview aired over GMA News’ “Unang Hirit.”
Firefighters also had to go through narrow alleys occupied by residents trying to save their belongings.
The fire was doused at around 2:56 a.m. yesterday.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the flames.