Three persons were hurt while about half a million pesos worth of property was destroyed in a fire that hit a residential area in Pasay City Friday night.
Injured were Geraldine Nugut, Lorenz Yumul, and Ramon Miranda.
The fire started around 6:30 p.m. in a two-story house and spread to nearby houses along Dandan Street in Barangay 54.
At least 54 fire trucks from cities in southern Metro Manila responded, and the fire was declared out at 10:46 p.m.
Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano visited the 30 affected families at their temporary shelter in Barangay 54 gymnasium, where they were provided with mats, blankets, towels, hygiene kits, rice, and canned goods.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office also provided the necessary resources to help the affected families.
Arson investigators are still investigating the cause of the fire.
The government urged the community and business establishments to practice fire safety precautions to avoid the detrimental effects of fire incidents.
The Bureau of Fire Protection stated that most fire incidents happened due to faulty electrical lines, unattended gas lamps and cooking stoves, and overheating appliances.
Last year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government tapped local government units to conduct inspections and coordinate with local BFP offices to ensure proper compliance of establishments with the rules of Republic Act 9514 or the Fire Code of the Philippines (FCP).
“Let’s make sure that the buildings have fire exits, fire protection systems such as sprinklers, hose boxes, and other fire safety features in accordance with the Fire Code of the Philippines. Let’s not ignore these things because the lives and safety of our countrymen depend on it,” said DILG secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Among the simple fire safety protocols that people must be aware of include the unplugging of appliances that are not in use; not leaving the stove open; regular inspection of the liquefied petroleum gas or LPG tank; and storing flammable items in a safe location.