Couple, 3 grandkids die in Makati fire

MANILA, Philippines - A couple and their three grandchildren died when a fire broke out at a residential area in Makati City on Tuesday night.

Another fire struck Parañaque City yesterday as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) kicked off Fire Prevention Month.

Arson probers identified the fatalities as Ramon Benjamin, 78; his wife Virginia, 68, and their grandchildren Francine, 12; Franklin, 8, and France John, 6, all surnamed Lozano.

The Benjamins died after they were trapped at their burning house in Barangay Southside, fire officer Ian Guerrero said.

Frank Lozano, the siblings’ father, said he just came from work when he saw their house on fire.

Guerrero said the fire started at the house of Melanie Castro at around 8:30 p.m. and immediately spread to nearby homes.

Nida Garin said an unattended lamp could have sparked the fire because the Castros’ power supply had been cut.

Damage to property was placed at P200,000.

Guerrero said the fire left at least 10 families homeless.

In Parañaque City, a fire hit a two-story warehouse along Midtown Road in Barangay Tambo yesterday.

 The fire damaged the warehouse of Real Forwarding Corp. at around 6:30 p.m.

Firefighters put out the fire after an hour.

At least P20,000 worth of property went up in smoke.

Authorities have yet to establish the cause of the fire.

BFP on alert

The BFP was placed on heightened alert as part of the  observance of Fire Prevention Month, BFP chief Director Bobby Baruelo said.

“We will implement ano-leave policy for all BFP personnel for the whole month of March,” Baruelo said.

He ordered city and municipal fire marshals to identify fire-prone areas in their jurisdictions for monitoring and inspections.

The BFP and Department of the Interior and Local Government kicked off this year’s fire awareness and prevention campaign dubbed “Lingguhang babala para iwas disgrasya” in Taguig. – With Perseus Echeminada, Cecille Suerte Felipe