3-hour fire destroys 100 shanties in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines –  Around 175 families were left homeless when a three-hour fire broke out at a Caloocan City shantytown before dawn yesterday.

Inspector Julius Daryl Bulatao, Caloocan City Bureau of Fire Protection admin officer, told The STAR that “the blaze started at the house of Aresnio Beriber,” 60, who left a burning candle unattended.

 He said the blaze reached third alarm before firefighters, using around 15 fire trucks, mostly from fire volunteer groups, put it out at around 6 a.m.

“Nobody was reported hurt but our investigators are still in the area gathering more information,” Bulatao said.

Caloocan City has only five fire trucks for its 188 barangays.

Affected families in Barangay 185 have been evacuated to the barangay’s covered basketball court, and Mayor Enrico Echiverri has directed the city’s health and social welfare departments to assist the victims.