1 hurt as fire hits Tondo residential area

One person was hurt after a fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay 108, Tondo, Manila early Tuesday morning. 

A resident from the house where the fire supposedly started sustained burns and wounds on his hands and feet after he tried to rescue his grandchild who he thought was still inside the burning house, according to a report of EJ Gomez on Unang Balita. 

'''Yung bata, nasa loob siyempre 'yun ang pagkakaalam ko nasa loob, eh wala pa raw umaakyat. Inakyat ko ngayon, ginanun ko 'yung kutson na hinihigaan niya, wala, ayan kaya nga nasunog 'yung kamay ko. May tumulong lang sa akin doon sa hagdan na hilahin ako pababa,” he said. 

(The child was inside, that's what I thought. So I went up there. I touched the mattress where the kid was lying. The kid was not there. My hand was burned. Someone just helped me at the stairs and pulled me down.)

According to him, there is no power supply in their house so they were using a candle that possibly started the blaze. 

The 10-year-old kid, who was left alone in the house before the fire, said the candle on the pot fell so they moved it to a speaker. Then, the fire started. 

"Natumba sa kaldero 'yung kandila. Doon ko na lang inilagay sa speaker. Nasunog na po, mausok, mainit. Lumaki na po kaya nababa po ako,” the kid said. 

(The candle fell into the pot. I just put it on the speaker. It was burning, smoking, and hot. The fire already grew so I got out.)

Four BFP fire trucks and 50 volunteer fire trucks responded. 

The fire started past 12 a.m. and was declared out around 12:44 a.m. 

“Kung mapapansin ninyo, light materials 'yan, pero dahil siya ay tabing kalsada madali po siyang naapula,” BFP Manila’s Senior Fire Inspector Ronald Lim said. 

(If you notice, the houses are made of light materials, but because the area is on the side of the road, the fire was easily extinguished.)

Two houses were razed by the fire. Four families or over 15 individuals were affected. 

“Pansamantala po sa barangay hall po muna sila manunuluyan. At kami na po bahala sa pagkain nila araw-araw. Nandyan din naman po ang [Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office] at [Department of Social Welfare and Development] para sa mga karagdagang tulong po,” Barangay 108 chairman Rodison Simbiling said. 

(For the meantime, they will be staying at the barangay hall. And we will take care of their food every day. The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are also there for additional assistance.

The BFP is still investigating the cause of fire and the estimated cost of damage. —AOL, GMA Integrated News