BFP to probe Muntinlupa fire that killed 10

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Monday said it will conduct a deeper investigation into a house fire that killed ten members of a family in Muntinlupa City.

In Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the city’s fire department said they will look into the autopsy report on the victims’ bodies and CCTV footage of the incident that occurred in Barangay Putatan over the weekend.

Authorities earlier reported the fire broke out just before 9 a.m. and was declared put out at 10:25 a.m.

“May mga question eh. Bakit ganoon kabilis namatay lahat 'yan? Wala ba kayong paraan para mai-rescue,” said Muntinlupa Fire Marshal Superintendent Eugene Briones.

(There are still some questions. Why did no one survive? Were there no means to save them?)

“Alas-nuebe ng umaga. Para hindi nila na-notice kaagad pero dahil nga sa circumstances na initial na naririnig natin na nagsimba nga ito, maaring pagod, nagpapahinga sila. Kanya-kaniyang room at maaaring may nag develop na sunog dito sa area ng sala, dining o kitchen,” he added.

(It was 9 a.m. It seems like they did not notice it right away, given the circumstances that they came from a mass and they may be tired or sleeping…Maybe they were in their own rooms when the fire broke out in their living room, dining or kitchen.)

Briones said it would take at least 45 days before they finish the investigation as the IT experts of the Muntinlupa City Fire Department are now processing the hardware of the CCTV cameras in the area.

But while some questions are yet to be answered, the official said it was clear the property was a fire hazard. He said it had two fire exits but both were locked.

“Masyado siyang puno ng gamit. Tapos 'yung ceiling niya parang medyo mababa sa tingin namin. Parang kulob na kulob siya kaya papatayin ka talaga ng usok,” Briones added.

(The house was full of stuff. The ceiling was also too low so the smoke would really kill you.)

Briones reiterated the importance of smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers and advised the homeowners to invest in them if they can afford them. He also said the public should remember the acronym SAFE (sound the alarm, advise the fire department, fight the fire, evacuate) in time of fire emergencies. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News