Crame cop, wife, 2 kids killed in fire that began in restaurant

A police officer and his family perished on Wednesday in a 50-minute blaze in Marikina City that reportedly began in the kitchen of a neighboring restaurant.

According to the city fire department, the Sumait family were trapped inside their house on Colonel Divino Street in Barangay Santo Niño when the fire began at 2:47 a.m.

Supt. Randolph Vides, city fire marshal, identified the casualties as PO3 Romar Sumait, 27; his wife Glendolly Rose, 27; and their two children, Kaizer Lee and Kenzie Fae, aged 6 and 3, respectively.

Initial investigation showed that the blaze started in the Signature Burgers restaurant. It quickly spread and engulfed four buildings, destroying around P200,000 worth of property before it was put out at 3:39 a.m.

4 families affected

Four families were affected by the fire which reached only the first alarm.

The fire department said the windows in the Sumaits’ house were covered with metal grills that made it difficult for the victims to get out.

Senior Supt. Roger Quesada, Marikina police chief, said the police officer was assigned at the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame.

Investigators are still trying to find out what caused the fire.