By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Two separate fires erupted in Manila before dawn on Wednesday, forcing firefighters to divide personnel and equipment between multiple emergencies as blazes in Pandacan and Tondo both escalated to third alarm.
The larger of the two incidents broke out at about 3:47 a.m. on the fourth floor of Residencias de Manila Building 1 along Jesus Street in Pandacan. Fire investigators said the flames rapidly spread upward to the seventh floor, prompting authorities to raise the alarm to the third level by 5:14 a.m.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said no occupants were inside the condominium-type building when the fire started. However, around 25 families were affected by the incident and were forced to evacuate as firefighters continued battling the blaze.
Some residents claimed it took nearly an hour before fire trucks reached the area, while intermittent rain complicated rescue and firefighting operations during the early morning hours.
A second fire was reported at 4:11 a.m. along Dagupan Extension in Gagalangin, Tondo. The blaze was also raised to third alarm within minutes before firefighters declared it under control at 5:14 a.m.
The BFP said its operations in Pandacan were further challenged after personnel and firefighting equipment had to be deployed simultaneously to separate incidents, including another reported fire in Pasay City.
As of 7:28 a.m., residents from nearby Residencias de Manila Building 3 were assisting emergency responders in efforts to contain the Pandacan fire and prevent it from spreading further.
Authorities have yet to determine the causes of the two fires. Investigators are also assessing the extent of property damage and verifying whether any injuries or casualties were sustained in either incident.
ia/xf
