1 dead, 14 hurt in Manila, Navotas fires

A 10-year-old boy was killed and 14 others were injured when three fires broke out in the cities of Manila and Navotas hours apart starting Friday night.

Arson investigators said the body of John Stephen Lesigues was found in the bathroom of their house on San Jose street, Herbosa Extension. His twin brother John Kennedy and their elder sister, Fredelyn, 12, were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Investigators said the fire broke out at the ground floor of the house occupied by the siblings and their family at around 4:16 a.m. and spread to nine other houses before it was put out at around 5:48 a.m.

The fire destroyed an estimated P500,000 worth of property and left around 30 families homeless.

Investigators are checking reports that a loud explosion was heard just before the blaze started.

At around 8 p.m. Friday, 11 persons were hurt in a blaze that gutted 50 houses in Barangay Tangos, Navotas City. The fire reportedly started at the house of Ruth Balete along Sapa street due to a defective power connection, firefighters said.

Fire Officer 4 Jose Dugan, 52, fell into a drainage canal and injured his knees. Others who suffered minor injuries were Gerry Mababangloob, 16; Generoso Mendoza, 17; Anthony Balete, 19; Jeffrey Lacadel, 19; Gerry Casimillo, 35; Allan Araba, 11; John de la Cruz, 17; Rhodelyn de la Cruz, 53; Michael Maniclang, 25; and Joel Cruz, 22.

The Navotas blaze left 378 persons homeless, according to Delia Napoles of the city social welfare department. The fire destroyed around P2.5 million worth of property before it was put out at around 10 p.m.

In Sta. Cruz, Manila, a fire broke out at the stockroom of a residential building on Oroquieta street at around 2:03 p.m. yesterday and was put out within 30 minutes.

The stockroom contained building maintenance equipment and also served as the barracks of janitors and maintenance personnel. No other rooms were damaged by the fire.

Maintenance man Orlando Hular Jr., 53, suffered first-degree burns and was treated at the UST Hospital. The damage caused by the fire was estimated at P100,000. –