2 kids perish in QC blaze

A three-year-old girl and her nine-month old brother were killed after a two-hour fire broke out yesterday afternoon inside their home and razed at least 15 other houses in Cubao, Quezon City.

Police identified the victims as Jamaica Serrano, and her younger brother Jerome, both residing at 62 Yale St., Barangay E. Rodriquez. Both burned to death inside their home.

Authorities have yet to determine the amount of damage caused by the fire, but sources estimated it to be worth "millions of pesos." The blaze reached Task Force Bravo. No other injuries were reported.

Fire investigators said that the blaze started at about 3:30 p.m. at the Serrano’s residence. It was learned that Jamaica was playing with a cigarette lighter.

Sources said that the lighter probably sparked a flame and lit a window curtain, which caused the fire. The victims’ mother Bing told probers she only noticed that their house was on fire when it was already filled with smoke.

Police said that Bing tried to save her two children but failed to do so because "the kids were at the third floor of their house." The flames quickly spread to neighboring houses.

"The strong winds did not help as it spread the flames to other houses. Unfortunately, most of the houses were made of light materials which caused it to burn so rapidly," a policeman said.

Responding firemen immediately arrived at the scene and were able to contain the fire at about 5:10 p.m. Investigators said that it was impossible for them to save the victims because "they were already trapped and buried at the third floor of their home."– Matthew Estabillo