MANILA — A fire that hit Barangay 310 in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Wednesday night displaced around 500 families, with nearly 250 homes destroyed.
According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Manila, the fire was declared under control at 1:50 a.m. on Thursday after reaching the fifth alarm.
Senior Inspector Alejandro Ramos, chief of the Manila Fire District Intelligence and Investigation Division, said the fire spread rapidly, making it difficult for firefighters to contain it.
“The fire involved light materials in the homes, and with the presence of the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) nearby, we raised the alarm to the fifth level,” Ramos explained.
He added that the Manila City Jail inmates were unharmed and were not evacuated.
“Thank God, the inmates were not affected, and they were not moved or relocated,” Ramos stated.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but authorities said it started in the middle of the residential area.
“The fire began in the central part of the area, and the narrow roads made it difficult to pinpoint the focal point of the fire. The area was heavily populated, and we were blocked from entering by the crowds,” he said.
Ramos also reported that two women were injured during the incident. He described the area as “fire-prone,” with densely packed houses made from light materials that increase the risk of fire.
The BFP-Manila declared the fire out at 6:24 a.m. on Thursday.
Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire, while the local government of Manila has responded to assist those affected by the blaze.