Fire razes QC shantytown

MANILA, Philippines - A fire destroyed a slum area in Barangay Masambong, Quezon City yesterday morning, leaving 200 families homeless.

City fire marshal Superintendent Jesus Fernandez said the fire started just before 5 a.m. at the two-story home of Milagros Mabilangan, 70, and spread to 79 other houses before it was put under control over an hour later.

No one was hurt or killed in the fire. At least P1.2 million worth of property went up in smoke.

Fernandez said they were looking into the possibility that an unattended lit candle at Mabilangan’s house was what caused the fire.