Firefighter injured, 1000 families lose homes in Pasig and QC fires

(Updated 2:45 p.m.) A firefighter was injured while 1,000 families lost their homes in separate fires in Quezon and Pasig Cities on Saturday, a day before the start of Fire Prevention Month.

In Quezon City, a firefighter was rushed to a hospital after sustaining burns in his face while battling a fire at a building at Araneta Avenue.

The fire started at 12:15 a.m. Saturday and was at Task Force Bravo as of 1:30 p.m.

Higit 13 oras nang nasusunog ang isang building sa Araneta Avenue, QC. Task Force Bravo, nakataas pa rin. @dzbb pic.twitter.com/UC6f9ZbQZ7

— James Agustin (@_jamesagustin) February 28, 2015

Firefighter had to use chemical foam to battle the blaze, GMA News' Jay Sabale reported on GMA News TV's "Balitanghali Weekend."

The building housed several commercial establishments, including a tarpaulin making business.

Residents whose houses were at the back of the building tried to save their belongings, including a washing machine. Firefighters asked them to leave their homes lest debris from the burning building fall on their houses.

In Pasig City, a separate dzBB report said 500 houses were destroyed in a fire at a residential area at Bolante 2 in Barangay Pinagbuhatan.

The fire reached the general alarm but was put out at 1:25 p.m., GMA News' Rida Reyes reported.

Idineklara nang fireout ang sunog sa Brgy Pinagbuhatan sa Pasig City ngayong 1:25PM. @gmanews @PasigInfo

— Rida Reyes (@Rida_Reyes) February 28, 2015

Sketchy initial reports indicated the fire started at about 9 a.m. and spread quickly, partly due to strong winds.

Firefighters could not immediately get to the area due to the narrow roads there. Also, other firefighters in Metro Manila were busy fighting another fire in Quezon City.

For their part, residents helped fight the fire.

A Philippine Air Force helicopter helped douse water on the residential area.

Two covered courts have been prepared for the families affected by the fire. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News