Fire breaks out at residential area in Pasay City, now raised to 3rd alarm

A fire that broke out at a residential area along Mulabi Street in Barangay 145, Pasay City has been raised to third alarm.

According to a report from the Bureau of Fire Protection on Friday, the fire was reported at 4:57 p.m.

The residents affected by the fire littered around the street while responders worked to put the fire under control.

Jennifer Camado was waiting at the side of the street with a small backpack for firefighters to save her home.

“Bago mag-5 [yung sunog], then yun na po. Sunod-sunod na po yung sabog, tapos lumalakas na po yung sunog… Kasi po kanina, natutulog lang po ako tapos umakyat po yung ninong ng partner ko. Sinabi po sakin na naapoy na po sa likod. Tinignan ko po kung saan po banda, doon po banda sa malaking building na bato, sa likod po noon. Tapos ‘yun po, nagstart na po,” she said.

([The fire] began before 5 p.m., and then there. The explosions were continuous, and the fire got stronger… Earlier, I was just asleep then the godfather of my partner climbed up. He told me that there was a fire at the back. I checked where it was, which was behind the large stone building. That’s where it started.)

“Di ko pa po alam [saan ako titira], pero gladly hindi pa naman po [daw inaabot] pero magtrust nalang po kami sa bumbero po na sana maapula nila yung apoy kasi yung building na malaki, next na po sa amin,” she added.

(I still don’t know [where I will live], but gladly [fire has not reached our house], but I will trust the firefighters to hopefully put out the fire because our building is next.)

Camado said that she was only able to save her documents, since the smoke was already too thick to navigate through.

“Ise-save ko po sana yung appliances namin, kaso mag-isa lang po ako. Tapos pinababa na po ako ng ninong niya kasi sobrang usok na po, wala na din po kaming makuha sa taas po. Wala na po kaming choice,” she shared.

(I would have saved our appliances, but I was along. Then my partner’s godfather made me go down because the smoke was too thick, and I couldn’t get anything from upstairs anymore. I had no other choice.)

One of the victims was Fely Gonzales, who was on her way home from her job as a Barangay Tanod when she saw that her building was on fire.

“Wala nga po akong alam. Pagdating ko, liyab na ng liyab eh… ‘Yung [bahay] namin naabutan na po ‘yun. Pagpasok ko sa bahay namin, lumalabas na yung usok galing sa likod,” she said.

(I didn’t know anything. When I arrived, it was blazing… Fire must have already reached our [house]. When I went inside our house, the smoke was already streaming out the back.)

“Damit at electric fan lang [nakuha ko]. Walang nailigtas,” she added.

(I was only able to save my clothes and the electric fan. I couldn’t save anything else.)

Her neighbor, Fidel Cunangan, said he was outside when the fire broke out, and was not able to save his belongings.

“Nandito ako sa labas eh. Pagkasabi nila na may sunog, tumakbo na ko sa amin, tinulungan ko sila kasi ‘yan lang nakuha nila [damit lang]. Di ko po alam [gagawin],” said Cunangan.

(I was outside. When they said there was a fire, I ran to our house and helped because they only got [our clothes] out. I don’t know [what to do].)

The fire was raised to first alarm at 4:59 p.m., and later raised to second alarm at 5:10 p.m. The fire was soon raised to third alarm at 5:21 p.m. and is still ongoing as of 6:00 p.m. — BAP, GMA Integrated News