A FIRE broke out in a residential area in Barangay Malanday, Marikina City, on Saturday morning, forcing evacuations and prompting a swift response from firefighters and rescue teams.
According to the Marikina Command Center, it received multiple calls about the blaze at 10:17 a.m., destroying houses along Bronze Street, Minahan Interior.
Responders immediately dispatched fire trucks from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and an ambulance from Marikina Rescue 161 for verification.
The fire was confirmed at 10:18 a.m. and was raised to the first alarm by 10:25 a.m. Then the second was declared at about 10:38 a.m., requiring additional fire trucks from nearby stations.
Firefighters managed to place the blaze under control at about 10:49 a.m. and declared it out by 11:08 a.m., according to the BFP.
Authorities confirmed that the fire hit a densely populated area with houses being built close to each other.
As of posting time, officials have yet to release the number of houses and families affected by the fire, as well as the estimated damage. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
Personnel from the Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, and the local Department of Social Welfare and Development are assisting victims. Displaced residents have been temporarily brought to the Bantay Bayan multipurpose hall in Minahan Interior for relief and shelter.
The Marikina City government assured affected families that relief efforts will continue while authorities complete their assessment of the incident.
