260 families lose homes in Sta. Cruz, Manila fire

Around 260 families lost their homes on Tuesday afternoon when a fire razed a residential area in Quiricada Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

According to a report by Susan Enriquez on GMA News TV’s “QRT,” around 100 houses and buildings were hit by the blaze that broke out just beside the Bureau of Fire Protection in Manila.

The fire started at around 12 noon. “Fire out” was declared at 2:22 p.m., according to Fire Inspector John Joseph Jalique of the Manila Fire Department.

The fire department gave an initial estimate that the blaze resulted in P800,000 worth of damage.

Jalique said the fire started on the third floor of a house on the street.

Authorities are still investigating claims by some residents that the fire started because of a pot of rice that was left cooking.

Two fire volunteers were injured when a burning roof fell on them. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News