LOOK: Fire hits commercial building along Recto, Manila

A fire of undetermined origin hit a four-story building along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila Sunday afternoon.

 

No one was initially reported injured in the fire at the corner of Recto and Asuncion Streets, radio dzBB's Sam Nielsen reported.

DEVELOPING: Sunog sa Asuncion St. cor. Recto Avenue, Tondo Maynila, nakataas pa rin sa 4th alarm | @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/tIsQBwlRt9

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) July 12, 2015

 

The fire had reached the fourth alarm as of 3:21 p.m. When a fire is at fourth or fifth alarm, all fire engines in a district are required to respond. 

 

Firefighters had a hard time putting out the fire as the fourth floor was reported to contain flammable plastic items, the report added.

Update: Dahil na rin sa mga nakaimbak na plastic wares sa gusali, mga bumbero hirap apulahin ang sunog @dzbb pic.twitter.com/020AY2rZCX

— samnielsen (@dzbbsamnielsen) July 12, 2015

 

According to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Manila Chief Inspector Arvin Rex Afalla, they have yet to determine the fire's source.

He said, though, that the room from which the fire started was a storage room.

 

Afalla said they had a difficult time putting out the fire in some parts of the building because of the burning plastic materials.

It was also hard for the 70 firetrucks to reach the place because of small alleyways.

 

Nevertheless, fire was declared under control at 5:07 p.m. No one was reported hurt.

 

Officials estimated the cost of damage at P2.5 million.  — Joel Locsin with a report by Victoria Camille Tulad/JDS, GMA News