New Year fire in Balintawak, QC declared out

MANILA, Philippines–The fire that engulfed a residential area in Barangay (village) Apolonio Samson, Balintawak Quezon City was declared out by authorities at 12:45 p.m.

The fire, which started at 6:45 a.m. and was raised to General Alarm at 8:10 p.m., razed 800 houses after initial reports said that around 2,000 homes were affected.

An estimated P3 million worth of properties was destroyed in the New Year’s day fire.

Initial reports said that a woman died during the fire, while two people were injured, including volunteer firefighter Paul Manuel who lost three fingers after an explosion.

Village officer Noel Carino, said the fire, which could have been sparked by firecrackers set off by children, erupted after dawn and was spread quickly by strong winds through nearly a kilometer-long (half a mile-long) row of shanties. Firefighters struggled to get near the burning shanties because of narrow alleys.

“It’s really a tragic way to welcome the New Year,” Carino said.

Residents struggled to save anything they could from the fire, including pet cats and dogs, with many using improvised floating devices to cross a murky river to escape from the fire.

Authorities are still confirming the cause of the fire.

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