Area of Tondo fire made of light materials, non-compliant to fire safety rules, fire official says

An official of the Manila Fire District (MFD) on Monday said the residential area in Tondo where a fire incident killed five children were made of light materials and were non-compliant to fire safety regulations.

MFD marshall Senior Superintendent Jonas Silvano said the houses in Barangay 91 failed to secure fire permits needed to ensure the protection of residents in case a fire happens in their area.

"Ito po yung mga typical na mga bahay na luma na, puro light materials, tabi-tabi, na hindi po dumaan sa fire permit. Wala po yung necessary mitigation control, yung mga fire protection measures, wala po yung mga yun. Kaya pag nagkasunog po sa ganyang lugar, mabilis po talaga lumaki at marami po talagang namamatay," Silvano said in an interview on GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas.

The children were said to have been left at home while their parents went out to buy food, and were unable to leave the house as the door was locked from the outside. 

One of the six siblings was able to escape by jumping outside a window, and he was said to have called his big brother to jump as well.

A separate report, however, said the big brother opted to stay with the younger siblings in hopes of finding a way out.

Silvano said the cause of the fire is still the subject of investigations, including information that one of the children was found to have been playing with a lighter. He said any evidence on the fire will also be sent to the crime laboratory.

"Patuloy tayo nangangalap ng information coming from the witnesses, yung personal witnesses. Papadala rin po natin yung ano, pag na-trace na po natin kung saan po yung origin of fire, papadala po natin sa crime lab yan para mag-corroborate po yung mga ebidensya natin para malaman ano pinaggalingan ng sunog," he said.

Silvano also advised the public to refrain from locking their doors from outside, as safety protocols dictate the use of doors as an exit in case of emergencies.

"Bawal na bawal po talaga i-lock from the outside 'pag may tao sa loob ng istraktura. Ang design ng isang pintuan is not only to enter but also as an exit. Na-violate po ang safety protocol, dapat nga po nakabukas yan pag maraming tao sa loob. Talagang very dangerous po yung ganitong sitwasyon," Silvano said.

The fire official said the area was declared fire out past 1 p.m. but they have yet to determine the number of houses damaged. — Joseph Tristan Roxas/RSJ, GMA News