By Alexandria San Juan
At least 750 families were displaced by a huge fire that razed a residential area in Barangay Damayang Lagi, Quezon City on Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters try to extinguish the fire that razed a residential area in Brgy Damayan Lagi, Quezon City, March 20, 2019. (Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN)
Fire Director Leonard Bañago of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said they have yet to determine the cause of the fire that reached General Alarm.
Initial report from the BFP showed the fire started on the third floor of a house owned by a certain Manny Casas at around 1:27 p.m.
Bañago said a fanning effect due to the strong winds, as well as a drop in water pressure, caused the blaze to intensify and quickly spread to adjacent houses.
The fire alarm immediately escalated, and was raised to General Alarm at 2:42 p.m., the highest fire alarm level to be declared by the BFP in which supporting fire trucks from other districts could also be dispatched.
Some explosions were also heard in the area while firemen were putting out the fire.
Around 250 houses were destroyed by the fire that lasted for at least three hours before it was declared under control at 4:05 p.m.
At least 150 firemen also responded in the scene.
There was no casualty reported according to the BFP as of press time, while the estimated amount of damage of the fire was still being determined.