By Diann Calucin
Two children died in a fire that hit a residential area at Urrutia Street, Barangay Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City on Monday, Oct. 24.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) report, the bodies of the victims -- two girls aged three and nine -- were found inside their restroom and were retrieved at around 11:00 a.m.
The bodies were brought to the Philip Sabino Funeral Services.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the first alarm was declared at 8:04 a.m. and the second alarm was raised at 08:17 a.m.
The fire was declared under control at 8:31 a.m. before it was extinguished at around 08:44 a.m.
Five families or 21 individuals were affected by the fire.
The city government said two houses were totally destroyed while three others were partially damaged by the fire.
Meanwhile, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian visited the affected families.
"Nakikiramay rin po ako sa pamilyang naulila dahil sa insidente na ito. Titiyakin ng ating Pamahalaang Lungsod na matutugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan (I extend my condolences to the bereaved family. We assured them that the city government will address the victims' needs)," Gatchalian said in a Facebook post.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Gatchalian said the fire lasted only for 30 minutes, and the two girls died from suffocation due to thick smoke.
The fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire and the extent of its damage.