QC blaze lasts 50 hours

MANILA, Philippines - It took more than 300 firemen and 42 fire trucks before they put out the blaze – lasting more than two days and two hours – at a seven-story commercial building on Araneta Avenue in Tatalon, Quezon City.

Fire marshal Jesus Fernandez said yesterday they had to flood the building before they were able to put out the fire just before 2 a.m. Monday.

Arson investigators have yet to determine what caused the fire, which started on the second floor of the Gateway 2000 Development Corp. building, owned by Robert Go, at past midnight Saturday.

Paints and thinners were reportedly stored on the second floor.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Ohedio Asoy was taken to the Dr. Fe Del Mundo Medical Center after he suffered burns on his face.

Probers have yet to release an estimate of the damage caused by the fire, Fernandez said.