Another fire hits Makati, 3rd on Christmas Eve

Another fire hit a residential area in Makati City late Friday — the third in Metro Manila on Christmas Eve and the second in Makati for the day. The fire at the South Cembo area was declared at "Task Force Charlie" by the Makati City fire department as of 7 p.m., Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported. There was no initial report of casualties in the fire, which had razed at least six houses along Aguinaldo Street. Earlier in the afternoon, fire of undetermined origin hit a four-story structure in a housing area at Building 5 of the Guadalupe Bliss housing area along J.P. Rizal Street in Makati City. (See: Fire hits housing area in Makati) Metro Manila fire marshal Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta said there was no initial report of casualties even as at least two residents were "rescued" from the afternoon fire. Cordeta said the earlier fire started at about 3:27 p.m. and reached Task Force Bravo minutes later. The fire was placed under control before 5 p.m. Citing initial findings, he said the fire started at the unit of a certain Nicolas. There was no one inside the housing unit at the time the fire started, he said. On the other hand, Cordeta admitted there was some "overkill" in reacting to the fire, when he called for firefighting units from neighboring cities to support Makati City firefighters in battling the blaze. "Apat na palapag ito pero ang area nito 2,000 square meters. Medyo overkill nang kaunti to make sure hindi malaki na," he said. (This structure is four stories but occupies 2,000 square meters. We had to overkill a bit to make sure the fire did not spread.) He appealed to the public to avoid poor housekeeping, and make sure unused appliances are unplugged. Friday's fires were the third and fourth to hit a residential area in Metro Manila in the last 24 hours, after fires in Muntinlupa City and Baseco Compound in Manila. On Thursday night, a fire destroyed some 500 houses in Muntinlupa City, rendering up to 2,000 families homeless. (See: Report: 500 houses destroyed in Muntinlupa fire) Several families in Manila's Baseco compound also face a bleak Christmas after a fire razed their houses early Friday. (See: Report: 150 families lose homes to Baseco compound fire) The Bureau of Fire Protection's Metro Manila unit had ordered firefighters to keep alert, and prohibited firemen from drinking, taking vacations and leaving their posts. (See: Fire bureau to personnel: No drinking, no vacation, no leaving posts)—JV, GMANews.TV