Report: 150 families lose homes to Baseco compound fire

At least 150 families in Manila face a bleak Christmas after a fire of undetermined origin destroyed their homes in the city's Baseco Compound area early Friday. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported the fire started at 6:26 a.m. at Block 9 extension of the Baseco Compound in the city's Tondo district.
There was no initial report of casualties in the fire. An initial investigation showed the fire reached the fourth alarm before firefighters put it out at 7:08 a.m. Arson investigators are verifying information that the fire started at the house of one Teresa Burgos, and that it may have stemmed from a candle left unattended as there was no electricity in the area at the time. The families who lost their homes were brought to the Del Pan Sports Complex, the report said. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV