Woman killed, 15 families lose homes in Tandang Sora blaze

“Her housemates saw her get out of the house but she went back, probably to save some belongings. She would have been alive if she didn’t go back.”

This was how Elizabeth David was last seen alive, according to a fire department official who responded to Wednesday night’s blaze that killed the 45-year-old woman and destroyed at least 10 houses in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

The body of David, 45, was recovered on the second floor of her burnt house at the corner of Venus Street and Tandang Sora, where the fire started around 11:40 p.m.

Quezon City deputy fire marshal Supt. Samuel Tadeo said the woman had already escaped from her burning house but decided to go back—and never came out again.

From David’s house, the fire quickly spread to 10 other houses and also damaged several market stalls nearby. In just 13 minutes, it reached the fourth alarm and destroyed about P 1.5 million worth of property, Tadeo said.

Fifteen families were left homeless by the time the fire was declared out about two hours later. Julie M. Aurelio