San Andres fire razes 100 homes

Seven persons, including a 12-year-old boy, were hurt when a three-hour fire, reportedly caused by a toppled lighted candle, razed some 100 houses in San Andres, Manila early yesterday morning .

Manila Fire Marshall Superintendent Jacinto Dequiatco identified those injured as brothers Felix and Eduardo Tuazon, Aileen Antonio, Eulogio Moreno, Grace Velasco, Josephine Nosie and her 12-year-old son Aldrin.

Aldrin sustained a fractured left leg after he was ran over by a responding firetruck while the rest of the injured suffered minor burns, abrasions and contusions in their bodies.

Arson investigators said the fire started at around 3 a.m. in the house of couple Jerry and Jenny Camacho at the corner of Estrada and Topacio streets in San Andres Bukid, Manila.

The injured Tuazon brothers, both barangay tanods , told probers they saw the couple quarreling inside their house shortly before the fire started. The couple reportedly threw household utensils at each other until a lighted candle was toppled, igniting the fire.

Residents said the fire rapidly spread and razed at least 100 houses before it was placed under control at around 6:15 a.m.

Dequiatco said some 300 families were rendered homeless by the fire which reached the general alarm level, sending firetrucks from neighboring cities and municipalities to the fire scene. Damage to property was initially placed at P10 million.

Meanwhile, two persons were killed while two others were seriously injured after the car they were riding was bumped by another vehicle before it turned turtle in Las Piñas City at dawn yesterday.

Police identified the fatalities as Jose Tirados Jr., 56, of block 15, lot 6, Gutierrez street, Las Piñas and Joel Jaca, 36, of block 23, lot 21, Beige st., Camella Homes, Springville, Molino, Bacoor, Cavite.

Tirados died on the spot due to severe head and body injuries while Jaca died on arrival at the Las Piñas Medical Center.

Injured were Rolando Espiritu, 41, and his wife, Leonita, 48, both of block 7, lot 18, Camella North 3, Bacoor, Cavite.

Espiritu and his wife were rushed to the Las Piñas Medical Center for treatment where they were later declared out of danger by attending physicians. --