Fire hits residences in Sta. Cruz, Manila, 500 families face homeless Christmas

(Updated 8:12 a.m.) Some 500 families face a homeless Christmas after some 200 houses were razed in a predawn fire at a residential area in Manila's Sta. Cruz district Thursday.

 

The fire started before 6 a.m. and reached Task Force Charlie before it was placed under control at 7:33 a.m., radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported.

 

Razed by the fire was the residential area at the corner of Oroquieta and Doroteo Jose Streets in Sta. Cruz.

 

At least one fire volunteer was injured while battling the blaze, the report said.

 

Patients at the nearby Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital were transferred to another ward while the fire was in progress, as shown by photos tweeted by dzBB's Mateo.

Mga pasyente sa Dr. Jose Fabella Mem'l Hospital, inilipat ng kuwarto dahil sa sunog sa Sta. Cruz. | via Carlo Mateo pic.twitter.com/r81Dghxiwt

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 10, 2014

 

Another set of photos tweeted by dzBB's Glen Juego showed the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology beefing up security at the Manila City Jail, which was also near the site of the fire.

Karagdagang pwersa ng BJMP, rumesponde na sa Manila City Jail dahil sa sunog sa kalapit na lugar. | via @glenjuego pic.twitter.com/gXw7hq5ndl

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 10, 2014

 

Black smoke from the fire was visible from as far as Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, dzBB's Allan Gatus reported.

Usok mula sa malaking sunog sa Sta. Cruz Maynila, kitang-kita mula sa Commonwealth Ave. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/clAmi1NuAc

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 10, 2014

 

Bureau of Fire Protection Metro Manila head Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano said they had difficulty fighting the fire because most of the houses were made of light materials.

Sr. Supt. Sergio Soriano, BFP-NCR director: Medyo natagalan yung pag-apula dahil itong mga apektado sa sunog, light material.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 10, 2014

 

Soriano said 200 houses were destroyed while 500 families were affected in the fire.

Humigit kumulang 200 bahay at 500 pamilya, naapektuhan sa sunog na naganap sa Sta. Cruz, Maynila. – Sr. Supt. Sergio Soriano, BFP-NCR dir.

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) December 10, 2014

 

Second fire

 

Meanwhile, a second fire broke out in Manila Thursday morning, this time at a residential area on Agusto Francisco Street in San Andres district.

 

The fire had reached the first alarm, dzBB's Mateo reported.  — Joel Locsin/ELR/KG, GMA News