MANILA, Philippines - A fire of still undetermined cause hit a two-story house on M. Hizon street in Sta. Cruz, Manila yesterday.
Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta, who heads the arson intelligence investigation division of the city fire bureau, told The STAR the blaze started on the ground floor of the house owned by Dr. Charlie Mendez at around 1:23 p.m. and was put out at around 2:11 p.m.
No one was injured in the fire that reached the third alarm, but arson investigators placed the initial damage at more than P500,000.
Two boys were nearly trapped in the burning house, but were able to escape to a neighbor’s house by going through the balcony. – Rey Galupo, Edu Punay