Twin fire hits Quezon City

MANILA, Philippines – A huge fire raged a squatter area in Quezon City this afternoon, razing shanties made up of light material in Purok 1-A of Barangay Culiat.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire of still unknown origin started around 4:15 p.m. The BFP has raised the alarm to Task Force Alpha as the blaze immediately spread in the area.

Traffic along the westbound lane of Commonwealth has been closed and being re-routed to Tandang Sora flyover.

Early today, more than 90 families lost their homes after a fire of unknown origin hit a residential area in Barangay Central.

Santiago Laguna, director of the Bureau of Fire and Protection in Metro Manila, said the fire broke around 10:37 a.m. in Agham Road corner East Avenue in Barangay Central. It was declared under Task Force Bravo at 10:55 a.m.

Personnel from the Philippine Red Cross reported that three persons were hurt in the incident, namely, Carlito Parillo, Marisa Almada, and an unidentified man.

More than 30 structures, made up of light materials, were razed by the fire. Last February, a fire also hit the nearby area, evicting more than a hundred families. (report from John Nulud and Edward Sumile/Philstar.com)