3 dead, 5 hurt in Quezon City fire

MANILA, Philippines - A mother and her two children were killed while five others were seriously hurt in an hour-long fire in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City yesterday.

Firefighters said Emy Cabambrosio, 49; and her children Shawee, 24, and Carlo, 19, were trapped in the bathroom of their house in Don Antonio Heights II when the fire started at around 5:57 a.m.

Four of those hurt were the Cabambrosios’ relatives: John Cabilino, 11; Jean Cabilino, 40; Durano Cabilino, 40; and Rica Mae Cabilino, two. They all suffered second-degree burns.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Jaime Biscocho of the Quezon City Fire Department said neighbor Joel Tumamimbi, 34, sustained a laceration on his left foot when he tried to help.

Biscocho said the Cabilinos and Tumamimbi were rushed to the National Labor Hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.

He said firefighters managed to put out the fire at around 6:45 a.m., less than an hour after the blaze started.

However, since the house was made of light materials, the fire spread fast, preventing Cabambrosio and her children from getting out through the front door.

Biscocho said probers, led by SFO2 Fortunato Alde and SFO4 Dionisio Cabote, have yet to determine what caused the blaze and how much property was lost.