3 hurt in Manila fire blamed on cat, unattended candle

MANILA, Philippines–A lit candle that had been toppled over by a frisky cat was believed to be the cause of the fire which left three people, including two children, injured and destroyed around 20 houses in Manila just before midnight on Wednesday.

Ten-month-old baby Princess Jannelle Norumbaba and her 11-year-old uncle Nicasio Norumbaba were asleep inside their house at 1281 Tambunting St. in Sta. Cruz when a lighted candle that had been placed on the windowsill fell over.

The flame leapt from the candle onto the bed sheet and quickly spread.

Fortunately, Nicasio woke up before the fire got bigger. He rushed his niece out of the house and called for help.

The baby was treated at Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center for first degree burns on the left side of her face and arm while her uncle sustained burns on both cheeks.

Gilbert Galang, a resident in the area, tried to help put out the blaze but suffered injuries on the body and left arm as a result.

SFO2 Emmanuel Gaspar, arson investigator of the Manila Fire District, said that the blaze started at around 11:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the second floor of the Norumbabas’ house.

Gaspar added that the fire quickly spread to at least 20 nearby houses, all made of light materials.

The blaze lasted for nearly an hour as firemen found it difficult to penetrate the affected area because of the narrow streets.

Adding to their woes was the explosion of an electrical transformer.

Residents pitched in to put out the fire which reached the third alarm before it was placed under control at around midnight.

Gaspar estimated the cost of damage to property at P500,000.