Fire hits residential block in Manila

Flames rage through the roofs of houses during a 95-minute fire on Padre Faura and M.H. Del Pilar streets in Ermita, Manila. RUEL PEREZ/RADYO INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippine – Fire gutted Tuesday morning a residential block on Padre Faura and M.H. Del Pilar streets in Ermita, Manila, fire officials said.

No one was reported injured in the blaze, Fire Officer 3 Oliver Sison of the Manila Fire District said.

Sison said the blaze started at 8:05 a.m. and reached fifth alarm before it was put out at 9:40 a.m.

Meanwhile, a report from Radyo Inquirer 990AM quoted Manila Fire District arson investigator Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta as saying that this was the third time that the area has been hit by fire, adding that the place has legal ownership issues.

The report also said the fire affected a nearby shop.

Sison said investigators are still determining the total number of affected houses and families displaced by the blaze.  Jamie Marie Elona