Firefighters control Binondo blaze after 15 hours

The fire that broke out at the Land Management Bureau building early Monday, and which later spread to the neighboring Juan Luna building, was finally controlled after 15 hours.

The National Archives was housed at the Juan Luna building.

"Itong area na ito prinoteksyunan natin to protect that structure," Fire Superintendent Jonas Silvano explained on GMA 7 news  program "24 Oras". "Pero nakita niyo di siya na damage ano... may iba siyang dinaanan."

"It's either convection or through flying debris parang ganyan ang possibility," Silvano added.

Thirty-four fire trucks responded to the fire, with the alarm eventually being elevated  to Task Force Charlie.

Three firefighters were injured in the fire.

"Meron tayong BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection firefighter) na nagka-laceration sa kamay tapos isang fire volunteer na ganon din laceration and another fire volunteer, difficulty of breathing," said  Silvano.

Victorino Manalo, director of the National Archives, assured the public that important documents were not damaged by the fire.

Manalo pointed out that most of their important documents were being kept at the National Library.

"Meron kaming system na 'yung mga valuables, archives di nilalagay sa isang lugar. So ang nandito lang ay 'yung files ng opisina na marami namang nababa namin," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News