Caloocan fire renders 13 families homeless

A fire blamed on an unattended lighted candle razed nine houses in Caloocan City and rendered at least 13 families homeless Friday night.

Chief Inspector Juan Reyes, Caloocan City Fire Marshall, said no one was reported injured or killed in the four-hour blaze.

However, a 67-year-old woman, identified as Leonila Mataganas, of Barangay 7, sustained minor burns in the arms.

F03 Randy Resurreccion, arson investigator, said the fire broke out at around 9:30 p.m. at the house of Mataganas and quickly spread to adjoining houses along J. Ramos St. in Barangay 7, Caloocan City.

Mataganas reportedly tried to put off the blaze herself but failed so she was slightly burned in the arms. Members of her household brought her to safety before the blaze totally engulfed her house and the adjacent houses which were mostly made of light materials.

A team led by P03 Edgar Ogalesco were dispatched to the fire scene to maintain order. Volunteer fire brigades from Gagalangin, Tondo, Jose Abad Santos, and Bambang in Manila and from Tangos, Malabon joined the regular firefighters of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Caloocan in putting out the fire.

PO3 Angelito Corales said the blaze reached the third alarm and was put under control by the Caloocan City firefighters and those from neighboring Navotas, Malabon and Manila at around 10:45 p.m. It was declared out at 1:05 a.m.

Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has directed the city disaster office to immediately provide assistance to the fire victims.