Access constraints may have affected the response to the P5-million fire that hit a residential building in Paco, Manila before dawn on July 29, even as authorities look into a possible electrical cause of the blaze.

The fire broke out at Building 1 of Residencias de Manila on Jesus Street at around 3:41 a.m. and quickly escalated to a third alarm, with flames concentrating on the fourth floor.

Initial information from investigators showed the fire may have started from an electrical source inside a fourth-floor unit, possibly an appliance left plugged in. However, authorities said the exact origin remains under investigation.

Fire officials also said the response was complicated by another simultaneous third-alarm fire in Gagalangin, Tondo, which forced responders to split personnel to manage both incidents and prevent further escalation.

Residents noted that vehicles parked along the roadside may limit maneuvering room for fire trucks entering the area, although parking was allowed in the vicinity.

The blaze was placed under control at 7:59 a.m. and declared out at 9:05 a.m., with damage estimated at around P5 million.

Affected residents were safely evacuated to Barangay 830, and no injuries were reported.

Authorities are now coordinating with the city engineering office to assess the structural integrity of the building's fourth floor.

Classes were also disrupted in nearby schools.

Power interruption during firefighting operations also affected Bagong Buhay Elementary School after electricity was cut off in coordination with Meralco.

Thick smoke from the burning building, carried by strong winds, further affected surrounding communities during the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.