P5.5 M worth of properties destroyed in separate fires

One person was injured while some P5.5 million worth of properties were destroyed in two separate fires that gutted a sticker factory the other night in Valenzuela City and a two-storey apartment building yesterday in Caloocan City. The first fire destroyed the High Label Enterprises, an adhesives manufacturer, located at the corner of Bonifacio Street, East Canumay in Valenzuela City at around 7:55 p.m. the other night.

Fire Marshal Efren Yadao said the four-hour fire reached Task Force Charlie where firefighters from several fire stations responded to help in controlling the blaze.

Fire officials said the fire was put under control at about 11:12 a.m. They said the firefighters had a hard time containing the fire because of the highly combustible materials used in the making of labels and stickers.

FO2 Melchor Gonzales said no one was reported injured in the fire where P5-million worth of properties went up in smoke.

The Valenzuela Bureau of Fire Protection is now determining the origin of the fire.

In a related incident, a 34-year-old male was seriously injured after he was hit by falling debris in a fire that hit a two-storey apartment building in Caloocan City early yesterday morning.

Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario, Caloocan City Fire Marshal, identified the victim as Victor Bagar Jr., married, who suffered second-degree burns in the body and legs as he escaped from the burning building.

Witnesses told probers they noticed the fire at about 12:30 a.m. when tongues of fire were seen at one of the rooms of the apartment located along T. Herrera Street in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan city, owned by a certain Ruby Dayao.

Arson probers said the occupant of the room where the fire was believed to have originated was identified only as a certain Cecille. The fire that reached the fourth alarm lasted for less than an hour and was put under control at about 1:22 a.m.

Fire investigators initially placed the damage to property at P500,000. – Jerry Botial