Fire hits Makati KTV

Fire struck the IO Family KTV on Jupiter street, Barangay Bel Air, Makati City yesterday morning, destroying six rooms of the establishment.

Fire Officer 1 Ervic Gavieres, arson investigator of the Makati City Fire Department, said fire started in Room 456 at around 6:05 a.m. and spread quickly to adjoining rooms.

"No one was hurt since there were no customers. The branch manager, Edwin Reyes, told me that their last day of operation was on Dec. 30. It was closed on Dec. 31," Gavieres said.

The other tenants of the building on the lower floors were not affected by the fire.

On duty security guard Anton Mediavillo was at his post on the third floor when the fire happened.

"He noticed broken glass and aluminum pieces falling from the fourth floor. When he went to check, he saw thick smoke coming from Room 456," Gavieres said.

Mediavillo alerted maintenance personnel, who in turn called the fire department.

Thirteen fire trucks from the Makati City Fire Department arrived, backed up by volunteer fire brigades.

The fire alert level did not go beyond the second alarm because of the quick response.

By 6:37 a.m., the blaze was contained and it was declared out by 6:55 a.m.

"We were able to immediately put out the fire because the affected rooms were facing Jupiter street and could easily be accessed by firefighters," Gavieres said.

He said they have collected evidence from the damaged establishment to determine the cause of the fire. The specimens were brought to the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory.

Gavieres ruled out firecrackers as the cause of the fire.

In Cubao, Quezon City, a 10-year-old boy died in a fire that struck a residential area yesterday morning.

PO1 Pedro Nillar identified the fatality as Nico Diaz of Bomi Serrano. The boy was sleeping at the third floor of their house when fire struck at 4:45 a.m.

Flames quickly spread, trapping the boy. The fire destroyed 10 adjacent houses.

Fifteen fire trucks responded to the fire, which was placed under control at 6:25 a.m. A fire out was declared at 7:08 a.m.

9 incidents in Manila

Arson investigators recorded at least nine fire incidents in Manila during the New Year celebrations.

Fire Officer 1 Guillermo Permalino of the Manila Fire Department said most of the incidents were immediately put out.

"Most of the cases were considered rubbish fires and were immediately contained by our firefighters," said Permalino. "We hope in the year 2005, people are more conscious to prevent fire incidents, which usually claim lives and destroy property."

He said the biggest of the nine fire incidents broke out at around 12:49 p.m. last Friday in a residential area on Floresca street, Pandacan. No one was reported hurt.

Firefighters have yet to establish the cause of the fire and the actual damage to property.

Permalino said another fire, caused by an overheated water dispenser, took place on V. Mapa Street in Sta. Mesa at around 6 a.m. last Friday

Timely arrival of firefighters from the Manila Fire Department and volunteer brigades prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent houses.

Authorities also recorded a vehicular fire on Dasmariñas street in Binondo, after a firecracker exploded on a parked car at around 12:27 a.m. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe