Families hit by blaze in Makati play blame game

Residents of two neighborhoods in Makati City have started playing the blame game after a fire razed nearly 10 houses in Barangay (village) Guadalupe Viejo Monday morning.

Senior Insp. Tito Purgatorio, chief investigator of the Makati fire bureau, said they have yet to determine the exact cause of the blaze although residents of JP Rizal said the fire started on Coronado Street.

People living on Coronado Street, however, denied this and said the blaze began on JP Rizal Street.

According to Purgatorio, the two streets were separated by a wall. “It seemed the fire crossed over [from one street to the other],” Purgatorio said. He added that residents had attributed the quick spread of the flames to a brisk wind and electrical wires crisscrossing the area.

The fire was reported at 9:53 a.m. and reached the third alarm before it was put out at 10:55 a.m.

Purgatorio estimated the damage to property at around P1 million. He said that the affected families were now staying at a nearby barangay hall and covered court.