Fireman injured as 2 fires break out in 3-story houses in Manila

RESIDENTS of Murillo Street in Quiapo, Manila, help firemen put out a blaze that hit a three-story house in the area. EDWIN BELLOSILLO

Two three-story houses in Manila caught fire in separate incidents on Monday. No deaths were reported although a fire investigator suffered injuries.

Senior Fire Officer 2 John Joseph Jalique identified the injured fireman as Inspector Geronimo Juico, substation commander of Tanduay Fire Station.

According to Juico, he was helping put out the fire, which struck a three-story apartment on P. Guzman corner Murillo streets in Quiapo, Manila, when he sustained an injury in his ankle.

The fire, which started at noon, reached the fifth alarm before it was put out at 3:23 p.m.

The apartment, which is made of light materials and owned by Sonia Aranquin, was heavily damaged.

Witnesses said faulty electrical wiring might have caused the blaze although the fire bureau has yet to determine the cause.

Earlier, another three-story house owned by Aida Abad also caught fire on Karilag corner Dagupan streets in Tondo at 8:24 a.m.

A report showed that it reached the third alarm before it was put out at 9:03 a.m.

Jalique said both fires are still under investigation.