Amid pouring rain, fire razes 8 houses in Manila's port area

Despite heavy rains in parts of Metro Manila, fire of undetermined origin razed at least eight houses in Manila's Port Area Wednesday night. A traffic enforcer helping firefighters battle the blaze was injured after being hit in the head by a fire hose, according to a report on radio dzBB early Thursday. Some 15 families lost their homes in the fire, the report added. The fire started at 8:46 p.m. and was placed under control at 9:49 p.m. Volunteer firefighter group TXTFire said the fire reached the fifth alarm. A traffic enforcer initially identified as Joselito Pineda was injured while helping put out the fire, after being hit on the head with a fire hose. An initial investigation showed the fire started at the house of a certain Ibrahim. Investigators are verifying information the fire supposedly stemmed from a candle left unattended. An earlier report by dzBB's Rodil Vega said arson investigators estimated the damage to property at P300,000. — LBG, GMA News