Fire hits San Juan condominium

MANILA, Philippines - Panicked residents of a 21-story condominium in San Juan City were evacuated yesterday after a fire broke out at the basement and thick smoke spread through the building.

Chief Inspector Edwin Co, San Juan City fire marshal, ordered the building management to shut down the elevators to prevent residents from suffocating while his men were putting out the fire.

Co reported that nobody was injured in the fire, which he said was put out some 45 minutes later.

Arson prober FO1 Jericho Aala said the fire started at the electrical room of the Strata Suit, owned by Narciso Padilla and located on P. Guevarra street in Barangay Little Baguio, at about 7:37 a.m. yesterday.

He pegged the property damage at P100,000.

Co allowed the residents to return to their units after declaring the fire under control at about 8:21 a.m.

Arson investigators strongly suspect the fire was caused by an electrical overload.