Sick man killed as 6 fires hit Metro Manila in the New Year

Firemen battle one of the six fires that hit Metro Manila at the height of the New Year’s revelry on Dec. 31, 2018. RADYO INQUIRER / MARK GENE MAKALALAD

Six fires hit Metro Manila at the height of the New Year’s celebration late Sunday night and early Monday.

A man identified as Elmer Lanora, 58, was killed after being trapped in his home in Caniogan, Pasig City, Radyo Inquirer reported.

Lanora was reportedly sick and alone when the incident happened.

The blaze that reached the fourth alarm, burned a string of 15 houses made of light materials and displaced about 30 families.

About P2-million worth of properties were destroyed.

In its initial investigation, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) found that firecrackers did not cause the fire, but still does not rule it out the possible angle.

A fire destroyed a commercial unit building along Alvarado Street in Binondo, Manila, after being hit by firecrackers.

According to the BFP, the blaze hit the building at 11:53 p.m. on Sunday and was immediately raised to the second alarm.

Residents said some people lit firecrackers before the building’s unit 18-J caught fire.

The firemen had a hard time extinguishing the blaze because the unit was a fabric warehouse. An adjacent warehouse was also gutted.

Minutes later, another blaze hit a residential area in Sta. Rosa Street, Barangay 19, Zone 2 in Tondo, Manila.

The fire hit the area at 12:18 a.m. and immediately raised to third alarm. It was declared fire out at 1:30 a.m. Nobody was hurt in the incident.

Meanwhile, the barracks in a construction site at the corner of Sagittarius and Asteroid streets in Remarville, Barangay Bagbag, Quezon City, went up in flames at about 10 p.m. Sunday after a kwitis fell on the structure, which was made of light materials.

Ten quarters were affected, including the adjacent auto repair shop owned by Engr. Virgilio Ranay.

The BFP declared fire out at 12:40 a.m.

Authorities have also recorded two small fires in Sangandaan in Caloocan City and Guadalupe Viejo in Makati City. wtih Mark Gene Makalalad/Radyo Inquirer