7 hurt in Caloocan blaze

MANILA, Philippines — Seven persons, including two children, were hurt in a fire that razed the second floor of a two-story apartment building in Caloocan City yesterday.

Arson investigator Fire Officer 3 Alwin Culianan said the fire destroyed seven units in the building in Barangay 109, affecting five families.

The seven victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment of first to second-degree burns.

Among the victims were elderly couple Marcelino Jr. and Editha Mendoza, who sustained burns on the arm and shoulder, according to their daughter Marianne.

A one-year-old child sustained burns on the buttocks, legs and feet while an eight-year-old child sustained blisters on the feet.

The other victims – Betty Tumagara, Jean Albert Soto and Anita Chan – also sustained burns and blisters on the feet, arms, chest and fingers.

The fire started at one of the residential units, not from the three units used to cook rice cakes as a business, Culianan said.

The fire reached second alarm at around 2:40 p.m. and was declared under control at around 3:30 p.m. It was put out at around 4:48 p.m.

Eight firetrucks were deployed to put out the fire. Damage is estimated at P450,000, Culianan said.

He said the fire could have gotten worse if it spread to the two junkyards on both sides of the residential building.