Deadly fires hit Parañaque, Malabon; 4 perish, 5 hurt
By Hannah Nicol and Jean Fernando

The fire in Barangay Longos, Malabon City. (Screen grab from Eleazar Lopez)
Four persons died and five others were injured, including a minor and a fireman, in a two separate fires that hit residential areas in Barangay Longos, Malabon City and Parañaque City on March 12 and 13.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) identified the injured victims as Gerald Flores, 24, who sustained first-degree burns on his right thigh and a burn blister on his right forearm; Rafael Frias, 44, who suffered a puncture wound on his left foot; and a 10-year-old boy who sustained burns on his left finger and forearm.
The fire started at 3:52 a.m. and was declared under control by 4:50 a.m.
The blaze was extinguished at 6:52 a.m.
Authorities said those who perished in the fire were a person with disability (PWD), two adults in their 30's, and a nine-year-old child.
The cause of the fire and the cost of damage to property are still being investigated.
In the fire that hit homes in Mashville, Barangay BF, Parañaque City, a firefighter and a home owner were reportedly injured.
According to SFO2 Giovani Corbes of the Parañaque Bureau of Fire Protection, injured were FO1 Alex Romia who suffered laceration on the right thumb, and Wilson Gatuslao, who suffered second degree burns on his forehead.
Corbes said the fire started at around 4:17 p.m. and was declared fire out at 9:59 p.m.
He said the fire started at the house of Gatuslao and immediately spread to 30 nearby houses affecting about 90 families.
The BFP placed the estimated damage to property at P375,000. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.