QC fire under control; 200 houses damaged

The fire that hit a residential area in Quezon City was placed under control shortly after noon Wednesday, after damaging some 200 houses in the area. No one was initially reported injured in the fire, which reached Task Force Alpha before it was placed under control at 12:35 p.m., radio dzBB's Divine Caraecle reported. However, traffic was still snarled along Araneta and E. Rodriguez Avenues as of Wednesday noon. An initial investigation showed the fire started at a three-story house occupied by one Cristina Abella. Arson investigators are verifying information the fire stemmed from a rice cooker left unattended. — LBG, GMA News