Report: Predawn fire hits residential area in Muntinlupa

A predawn fire of undetermined origin hit a residential compound in Muntinlupa City in southern Metro Manila Saturday, snarling traffic near the area. Radio dzRH reported that as of 7 a.m., the fire's alert level had reached general alarm status as firefighters scrambled to get to the scene. However, there was no initial report of casualties in the fire at Carmela Compound along West Service Road in Muntinlupa City. A separate report by dzBB radio's Denver Trinidad indicated the fire started about 4 a.m. Smoke from the fire, which snarled traffic around the area, was visible from the South Luzon Expressway, the dzRH report said. Meanwhile, with temperatures expected to get hotter in May, fire officials advised Metro Manila residents to tidy up their homes to prevent fires from breaking out. Metro Manila fire marshal Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta said many recent fires stemmed from poor housekeeping and “human carelessness." “Ang ating mga human carelessness dapat sana malampasan natin yan, ang pag-iingat talaga (Many fires had been traced to human carelessness. We have to be careful and tidy up)," Cordeta said in an interview on dwIZ radio. Several fires during the summer were found to have been started off by electrical short circuit, usually from appliances that overheated after they were plugged in too long. Other fires stemmed from flammable chemicals being exposed to hot weather. “Ang mamamayan may responsibilidad, ako ang mamamayan dapat may responsibilidad at huwag iasa kahit kanino (Each of us has a responsibility to prevent fires. That responsibility cannot be passed to others)," Cordeta said. Cordeta issued the reminder after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned of temperatures as high as 41 degrees Celsius during the summer. — LBG, GMANews.TV