Fires hit Manila, Las Piñas slum areas

Three fires hit Metro Manila over the weekend, des­troying approximately 150 houses in slum areas in Las Piñas and Port Area, Manila.

A week-old infant, identified as Ronel Bartolome, suffered third-degree burns from the fire and is undergoing treatment at the Las Piñas District Hospital.

The fire reportedly started in the house owned by Antonio Saique, 44, at the Factor Compound in Barangay Almanza. Saique was renting it out to Zeny de Guzman and Tita Asay.

The two-hour fire, which started before midnight Saturday, destroyed an estimated P3 million worth of property and left 150 families homeless.

“There are speculations that a lit candle may have caused the blaze since most parts of the compound don’t have electricity,” Senior Fire Officer 1 Nilo Lomitao said.

Nine fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and 10 others fielded by volunteer groups responded until the fire was finally declared under control at around 1:39 a.m. and out at 2:30 a.m. yesterday.

Some hours later, a fire broke out at the Meisic Mall in Divisoria, Manila. An overheated generator reportedly caused the fire, which was quickly put out. The fire damaged part of the second floor, according to firefighters.

In nearby Port Area, a fire that lasted for over two hours gutted 40 to 60 houses built on land owned by the Philippine Tourism Authority at the corner of Railroad and 11th streets. The damage to property was placed at P1 million. Authorities said the fire started at 4:47 p.m. and was declared put out at 6:18 p.m.

Firefighters said the fire started when a power transformer along Railroad street exploded and caused a short circuit in one of the shanties. – Rey Galupo, Michael Punongbayan, Sandy Araneta