5 hurt, 136 families homeless in Las Piñas, Parañaque fires

MANILA, Philippines — Five people were injured and at least 136 families were left homeless when two fires broke out in southern Metro Manila on Friday night.

In Las Piñas, one of five victims suffered first-degree burns while the rest were treated for abrasions and shortness of breath, according to a desk officer at the city fire station.

The fire along San Jose street in Barangay Elias Aldana started at around 7:29 p.m., destroyed six houses and reached second alarm before firefighters put it out at past 10 p.m.

Six families who were left homeless in the fire sought shelter in an evacuation center.

Arson investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blaze.

In Parañaque, a fire displaced at least 130 families in Barangay Merville, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

The blaze started in the second-floor bedroom of a two-story house owned by Jonathan Valderan at around 9:56 p.m. and reached fifth alarm, arson probers said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the BFP said.

The fire destroyed about 90 houses made of light construction materials before it was put out at around 2:30 a.m. yesterday by 78 fire truck crews. Seven ambulances were also on site during the fire.

The fire destroyed some P375,000 worth of property based on the initial assessment of investigators.

The affected residents were relocated to an evacuation center.