P5M lost as fire hits building in Manila

MANILA, Philippines–An estimated P5 million worth of property and valuables were destroyed while a fire fighter was injured as a fire razed a commercial building in Manila on Sunday night.

The Manila Fire Department said the blaze that engulfed the La Scala Building at the corner of Malvar and Adriatico streets in Malate, Manila, was first reported around 7 p.m.

Investigators said that the fire started at the second floor of the three-story building. Occupants of the building included a KTV bar, a Japanese-Chinese restaurant and a hostel.

Fire fighters who first responded raised the second alarm but were forced to raise the alert level after the flames quickly spread throughout the building.

The blaze was declared under control by 8:45 p.m. No one was killed in the incident but one of the responding firemen, Sherwin Pascua, a volunteer at the Paco Fire Department, was taken to the hospital for injuries.