Manila fire leaves 10 families homeless

MANILA, Philippines - Ten families were rendered homeless as a fire gutted five houses in Tondo, Manila yesterday afternoon.

No one was hurt but an estimated P1 million worth of property went up in smoke, according to Manila fire marshal Superintendent Jaime Ramirez. 

He said the fire started on the second floor of a two-story house on Hernandez street at past 5 p.m. “An appliance may have been left plugged in. We’re looking into this,” Ramirez said in an interview.

The house’s occupants were in Bulacan for a family outing, according to neighbors who reported the fire to authorities.

The flames spread quickly to four adjacent houses. 

Ramirez said the fire reached fifth alarm, which meant 50 fire trucks were sent to the area before the flames were put out less than an hour later.