Fire leaves 68 families homeless

MANILA, Philippines — At least 68 families were left homeless after a fire razed 15 houses in Barangay E. Rodriguez Sr. in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday night.

The fire, which reached second alarm, was reported at around 7:31 p.m. and put out at around 10:16 p.m., Fire Inspector Zeter Patalinhug said.

A witness told The STAR that the fire started at the kitchen of a house where a nine-year-old child had been cooking. The stove sparked and the flames spread throughout the second floor of the house.

Arson probers said three children aged eight, nine and 16 were left in the house because their mother was at work.

No one was injured or killed in the fire, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported.

Patalinhug said firefighters had difficulty bringing firetrucks into the area since Annapolis street is a busy road.

Affected families sought shelter at the Nativity of the Lord parish church on Ermin Garcia Avenue. They were given relief goods from the offices of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, Third District Councilor Wency Lagumbay and Councilor Geleen Lumbad.