1 dies as fires hit Manila, Navotas

At least one person was killed as two fires of undetermined origin razed a warehouse in Navotas City and an old three-story building in Manila. In Manila, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported a man initially identified as Leo was rescued from a burning three-story building at the corner of Claro M. Recto Avenue and Quezon Boulevard. But initial reports from the Philippine Red Cross said “Leo" was declared dead on arrival at the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center in Manila. The fire started at 5 a.m. and reached the third alarm. Firefighters tried to prevent the fire from spreading the building, which reportedly stored consumer products, from spreading to another building selling “ukay-ukay" (used clothing) items. Fire trucks blocked parts of C.M. Recto Avenue and a portion of Quiapo underpass, and snarled predawn traffic in the busy Quiapo district. In Navotas, radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported a fire hit a warehouse storing face towels and clothing products in San Rafael Village at 2:14 a.m. The fire reached the fourth alarm before firefighters placed it under control at 3:48 a.m. Navotas fire marshal Superintendent Felix Medes said the warehouse was far from residential areas in the city. He said they are still determining what caused the fire. — LBG, GMANews.TV