Baclaran fire finally under control - report

After more than 10 hours, a fire that hit a mall in Baclaran and caused more than P30 million in damage to property was finally placed under control Thursday afternoon. Radio dzBB reported that firefighters declared the fire "under control" at 3:45 p.m., more than 10 hours after the fire started at 5:30 a.m. It said at least two firemen sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze at the Galleria Baclaran mall. The fire reached Task Force Echo, requiring firefighters and Chinese Filipino volunteers from all over Metro Manila to rush to the site. Earlier, fire officials cited initial information indicating the fire may have started from an air-conditioning unit left on overnight Wednesday. The fire disrupted operations of the Light Rail Transit (LRT), forcing it to divert passengers to its station at Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). It also forced many vendors in the area and stall owners at nearby establishments to close operations for the day. - GMANews.TV