2 injured in big Valenzuela fire

Two persons were injured and an estimated P20 million worth of property was damaged when a fire razed a furniture warehouse and three other establishments in Valenzuela City yesterday morning.

Injured in the three and a half hour-long blaze that reached Task Force Charlie were Alvin Zacarias, 24, of 73-A Pablo St., Karuhatan, Valenzuela and Rosalina Silvestre, 60, of 982 A. de Castro St., Malinta, Valenzuela.

According to FO1 Nelson Baguinon of the Valenzuela City Fire Department, Zacarias sustained a lacerated wound in the right shoulder when shattered glasses fell on him at the height of the fire. He was treated by the responding emergency unit of the Bureau of Fire at the scene.

Silvestre, a laundrywoman, was allegedly pinned against the wall when a fire truck from a still unidentified volunteer fire brigade sped by. She was rushed to the Karuhatan General Hospital and has been pronounced out of danger, Baguinon said.

Investigation showed that the fire started at 11:08 a.m. at Ohan Furniture and Upholstery Center located at 76 A. Pablo St., Barangay Karuhatan, owned by a certain Peterson Chua.

Baguinon said that aside from the furniture warehouse, the fire razed the neighboring RRD Trading and Justice Electrical Corporation, both industrial establishments engaged in the fabrication of iron works, a nearby bakery, and a new and unoccupied apartment building. A residential house owned by a certain Cloty Cruz was partially damaged.

A fire out was declared by Senior Superintendent Romeo Villafuerte, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Fire-National Capital Region (NCR), at 2:36 p.m.

Baguinon told The STAR the blaze started at the furniture warehouse’s stockroom where wooden frames and other raw materials were kept. As of press time, investigators are still determining the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, a fire of unknown origin hit a commercial area in Pasig City Thursday destroying property estimated at P2 million.

Arson investigators said the fire started at the Renz & Vhe Videoke Bar located at the corner of De Castro street and Ortigas Avenue in Sta. Lucia at before midnight Thursday. Nobody was injured in the fire.

Superintendent Aloveel Ferrer, Pasig City fire marshall, said strong winds fanned the fire that spread to the neighboring M Lucky Convenient Store owned by Simplicio Ilagan. – Non Alquitran