3 hurt in Pasig fire

MANILA, Philippines — Three people were injured and 50 families were left homeless in a fire that broke out in Pasig City on Thursday, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported yesterday.

The BFP-National Capital Region field unit said the fire started at a residential compound in Barangay Kalawaan at around 4:20 a.m. and reached third alarm.

Arson probers said the fire originated at the house of the Egana family.

The BFP said Artemio Egana Sr., 64; Dexter Egana, 22, and Roger Dacutanan, 47, were treated for burns, abrasions and lacerations.

Firefighters put out the blaze at around 5:37 a.m.

Investigators are conducting a follow-up probe to determine the cause of the fire, which destroyed P2 million worth of property.

Around 50 families or 156 individuals who lost their homes were relocated to an evacuation center.

The crews of 55 firetrucks and an ambulance responded to the scene.

Blaze hits Binondo building

Also yesterday, part of the Birch Tree Plaza building in Binondo, Manila was gutted by fire.

The blaze started on the sixth floor of the building, located along Muelle de Binondo, according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The fire reached second alarm at 9:46 a.m. before it was put out around two hours later.

Firefighters used mechanized ladders to reach the floor that was hit by fire.

Authorities have yet to determine the cost of the fire damage and if the structure, said to be a warehouse, contained parcels from online shopping sites.

No one was killed or hurt in the fire. — Ghio Ong