1 dead, 3 hurt in Sta. Mesa fire

A septuagenarian was killed while three others were injured following a fire that reached the fourth alarm in Manila's Sta. Mesa district early morning Wednesday.

The fire, which hit No. 1 Linggo St. corner Lunes Street Landcom Village in Barangay 601, started at 5:28 a.m. and declared fire out at 6:12 a.m.

The fatality was identified as Jose Cenon, 75, who was found dead near the comfort room of his residence.
 

Fire investigator SFO4 Josepg Jalique said Cenon may have been trapped and died from suffocation.

 

Cenon's son Bernardo, daughter-in-law  Reynesa, and 10-year-old granddaughter Stephany were able to escape by jumping from their terrace. Bernardo sustained a leg injury while Stephany sustained burns on her arms and partially burnt hair.

 

Other occupants of the house were also able to escape.



According to Lily Soriano, it was around past 5 a.m. when she heard Cenon screaming for Bernardo.

At first, Soriano thought Cenon was having a heart attack but when smoke entered their unit, she immediately woke up her relatives.

Soriano said Cenon usually wakes up around the time opens the stove to heat water for his coffee.

Fire investigators suspect that there could be a leak from one of the LPG tanks being sold by Cenon and the fire was triggered when the stove was opened. 

As of posting time, authorities were still investigating what caused the fire and if the selling of LPGs had the proper permit. — Jay Sabale/RSJ, GMA News