3 fires hit Manila on Chinese New Year


Tondo, Manila fire.jpeg

Tondo, Manila fire (Photo from Fire Alert Metro Manila)

 

Three fires were reported in Manila on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Chinese New Year, two of them in Binondo, the heart of Chinatown, where two household helpers perished.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the two fatalities died in a fire that hit a condominium unit on the 35th floor of a residential building in Ongpin Street, Binondo, Manila.

Initial investigation showed that they died from suffocation after being trapped in the burning unit.

Six other occupants of the condominium unit escaped the blaze.

Based on the BFP's report, the fire started at 3:41 a.m. and was declared fire out at 4:51 a.m.

The Manila Fire District (MFD) placed the estimated amount of damage to property at around P4,500,000.

Arson investigators are still determining the cause of the fire that allegedly started from the helpers' room.

Another fire gutted several houses in Herbosa Street, Barangay 91, Tondo, Manila also on Wednesday, the BFP reported.

According to firefighters at the scene, the blaze started at 12:46 p.m. and has reached the 2nd alarm at 12:50 p.m. 

The 3rd alarm was raised at 12:57 p.m. 

An apartment building was also gutted by a fire in Ongpin corner Bermuda Street, Binondo, Manila on Wednesday.

Based on the initial report of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the blaze started at 12:24 p.m. and quickly escalated to the 2nd alarm at 12:27 p.m.

Firefighters declared fire out at 1:15 p.m.

Arson investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire and amount of damage to property. 

Meanwhile, a Korean restaurant was destroyed by a fire in Barangay 76, Pasay City, on Tuesday night, Jan. 28.

Pasay City Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) Fire Marshall Supt. Mariano Taguiam said the Songdowon Korean Restaurant owned by a certain Jung Sejung was destroyed by the fire that started at around 8:25 p.m. and was declared fire out at 9:17 p.m.

He said 35 fire trucks responded to immediately control the blaze.

The BFP chief said the cause of fire is still under investigation and the estimated damage to property was placed at P4,550,000.    

Taguiam also said cash money amounting to P184,120, mobile phones, and a laptop were recovered by responding firemen during the blaze and were turned over to the owner.

No one was reported injured in the fire incident.