Fire hits Taguig junk shop; 1 suffers from breathing difficulty

A fire broke out in a junk shop in Barangay New Lower Bicutan, Taguig City early Monday morning, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection - National Capital Region (BFP-NCR).

In an update, the BFP-NCR said the fire started around 2:10 a.m. and reached the third alarm around 2:41 a.m. 

A total of 18 fire trucks and ambulances responded to the area. 

A 63-year-old woman was given first aid after experiencing difficulty of breathing due to the thick smoke from the fire. 

The owner of the junk shop said two trucks loaded with garbage were also affected in the fire, according to a report of GMA Integrated News’ EJ Gomez on Unang Balita.

Five workers were able to escape from the fire. 

Fire Superintendent Melchor Isidro, BFP Taguig City’s Fire Marshal, said the pile of light materials such as plastic, carton, and wood posed a challenge for firefighters to put out the blaze. 

“Medyo makapal kasi 'yung usok. And then magkapatong-patong kasi 'yung light materials na nasusunog. Kaya kapag nabubugahan nila namamatay at lumiliyab po ulit…Then may mga sasakyan na nasusunog. May mga gasolina po na nasusunog din dyan,” he said. 

(The smoke was quite thick. And then the light materials that were burning were on top of each other. So when splashed with water, the fire was put out but later on reignited…Then there were vehicles that were burning. There was also gasoline that was burning there.) 

“Medyo may challenge talaga din (It was a challenge),” he added.

The fire was declared under control around 5:21 a.m., according to the BFP-NCR. 

Authorities have yet to provide information on the cause of the fire and its estimated cost of damage. —Joviland Rita/AOL, GMA Integrated News