Waiter killed in Sucat Road fire

MANILA, Philippines - A waiter was killed in a fire that destroyed a row of establishments along Sucat Road in Parañaque City yesterday morning.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Arthur Castro, chief fire marshall of the Parañaque City Fire Station, said Martin Medallada, a stay-in employee of a food chain, was reportedly sleeping in his room when the fire broke out.

His charred body was found under the debris of one of the burned houses.

The fire, which started around 10:31 a.m., razed a videoke bar and about seven houses and establishments along Sucat Road.

Castro said the fire reached the third alarm and was put out at about 11:34 a.m. after several firetrucks of the city government and neighboring cities, rushed at the scene.

Initial investigation conducted by elements of the Parañaque Fire Station said an unattended lighted candle could have triggered the fire, which damaged approximately P500,000 worth of property.   – Rhodina Villanueva