3 fires hit Metro on Christmas Day

MANILA, Philippines — It was a bleak Christmas for families in Tondo, Manila whose homes were razed by a fire on Wednesday night.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said around 30 families were displaced after a fire engulfed houses at the corner of Dagupan and Pilapil streets.

The BFP said the fire broke out at 9:20 p.m. and reached first alarm before it was contained at past 10 p.m.

BFP personnel on nine firetrucks helped extinguish the blaze.

Telephone calls from residents, who were partying outside their houses, helped first responders act quickly to put out the fire, according to Manila Fire District Station 1 commander Ronald Lim.

The displaced families are taking shelter at the covered court of Barangay 51.

No injuries were reported during the fire.

In Caloocan, an 84-year-old woman escaped unharmed after a fire gutted her home in Barangay 18 on Christmas Day.

Four firetrucks, along with volunteers, responded.

Arson probers said they have yet to determine what caused the fire.

In Navotas, a fire broke out at a warehouse in Barangay San Rafael Village on Wednesday morning.

According to the BFP, the fire started at 6:42 a.m. and was contained by firefighters after two hours.

Residents said the fire began in one of the containers of the warehouse, but arson investigators have yet to confirm this.

No injuries were reported during the fire. –  Mark Ernest Villeza