2 fires hit Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Firefighters in Makati City had their hands full yesterday as two fires broke out, one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

City fire marshal Ric Perdigon said a fire of still unknown origin struck a row of houses at the area of C-5 and Kalayaan street in front of the elevated U-turn at around 7:37 a.m.

Perdigon said the blaze started at the second floor of a house owned by couple Pedro and Ester Daician. The fire then quickly swept through a row of 13 other houses that are mostly made of light materials.

Personnel on 24 firetrucks and two ambulances from Makati City and Pasig City rushed to the area. 

The fire, which left some P1 million in damages, was put out by firefighters at 8:20 a.m.

Perdigon said a resident, Luisito Nogot, was rushed to the hospital after he collapsed from the thick smoke during the fire. Another resident, Emmanuel Naguit, was also treated for minor burns.

At about 1:14 p.m., fire struck a four-story apartment in Barangay Valenzuela. Perdigon said the fire, of still unknown origin, damaged one room of the apartment owned by Corazon Pineda, which is located at Concepcion street.

 Perdigon said the apartment was being rented by Antonio Atayde. No one was reported injured in the fire, which cost P10,000 in damages.

The fire was placed under control by Makati firemen in just seven minutes and was put out by 1:25 p.m.