Drunk man dies in QC fire

MANILA, Philippines - A drunken man died after he insisted on returning to his rented room to get his money as the house he lived in burned down before dawn yesterday.

The charred remains of Allan Billones, 35, was recovered from what was left of the three-story house in La Loma, Quezon City.

FO2 Sherwin Penafiel said the fire started at Billones’ second floor room at around 1:38 a.m.

He said Billones managed to get out of his room when the fire began to spread, but went back even as firemen and neighbors tried to stop him.

Penafiel said five other houses were also damaged by the fire, which destroyed an estimated P400,000 worth of properties.

The incident reached fourth alarm before firemen placed the flames under control at around 2:35 a.m. and put out the last flames at 2:50 a.m.