MANILA, Philippines — Two fires that struck Quezon City on Tuesday burned 550 houses and affected more than 1000 families, with an estimated total property damage of P2.2 million, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
According to Insp. Sherwin M Peñafiel of the BFP, a blaze that reached Task Force Bravo in Barangay Baesa, gutted 500 houses and rendered 1,000 families homeless.
The fire started at one a house in Sitio Ambuklao on Mendez Road around 4:30 p.m.
Around 15 firetrucks were deployed to put out the blaze.
The BFP declared the fire under control around four hours later and was put out around 11 p.m.
Around the same hour when the Baesa blaze started, a fire that reached the fifth alarm destroyed 50 houses affecting 80 families along Sinagtala Street, Barangay Bahay Toro.
The BFP estimated the property damage at the Bahay Toro fire at P250,000.
There were no reported casualties from the two fires.
Peñafiel said arson investigators from the Quezon City Fire Department are continuing their probe of the two fires.
The Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Baesa said it would accept donations, — such as canned goods, clothes, bottled water and toiletries — for the displaced families in Sitio Ambuklao.
Donations can be delivered to the barangay hall or directly to the Manotoc covered court where most evacuees sought refuge.
According to barangay officials, some evacuees from the Baesa fire are also settled in Villa Arca, at the Mary the Queen Chapel, as of Wednesday.
/atm