A total of 23 families were affected after a fire tore through a row of closely built homes along Obrero Street in Barangay 898, Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila, on Sunday evening, March 1, leaving at least 10 houses destroyed and 13 others partially damaged, based on initial assessment.

Personnel from the Manila Department of Social Welfare distribute hot meals, hygiene kits, and material assistance to families displaced by the fire along Obrero Street in Barangay 898, Punta, Sta. Ana, Manila.

The fire started at around 5:53 p.m. and quickly spread across adjacent structures due to their proximity, prompting residents to rush out of their homes and alert authorities as thick smoke filled the area.

Fire responders raised the alarm to the first alarm at 5:59 p.m., followed by the second alarm at 6:02 p.m., and eventually escalated it to the third alarm at 6:16 p.m. as additional manpower and fire trucks were deployed to contain the blaze.

The fire was declared under control and officially put out at around 6:54 p.m., less than two hours after it began.

In response, the Manila Department of Social Welfare immediately conducted an assessment and validation through its District Welfare Office VI and provided hot meals, material assistance, and hygiene kits to affected families to help them recover from the incident.

The agency said it remains committed to delivering immediate relief and continued support to families affected by disasters in the city.

Residents were forced to evacuate at the height of the fire, while authorities advised motorists to avoid the affected stretch of Obrero Street to allow emergency vehicles and firefighters unhampered access.

As of this writing, authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire, and the investigation is ongoing as part of intensified efforts in line with Fire Prevention Month observance.