Fire razes 3 houses in Malabon

MANILA, Philippines - At least three houses were destroyed and one resident was injured when a fire reportedly caused by a lighted candle broke out at a residential area in Malabon City before dawn yesterday.

Fire Officer 2 Arsenio Ranchez, of the Malabon City Bureau of Fire Protection, said the blaze started at the second floor of Rodolfo de la Cruz’s house along Sanchez street in Barangay Tinajeros.

“Reports gathered by our arson investigators showed the fire was reportedly caused by an unattended lighted candle,” Ranchez told The STAR.

He said Nonilo Dubon, 38, sustained burns in the left arm while trying to save his family.

Ranchez said fire started at around 2:30 a.m. and spread to two other neighboring houses before firemen were able to put it off at 3:15 a.m.

“It was immediately contained destroying only around P150,000 worth of property with one injured,” Ranchez said.

The early morning blaze occurred a day after the local BFP and the city government authorities kicked off the observance of Fire Prevention Month with a citywide motorcade reminding the residents to take extra precautions against fires.