20121030 Philippines Fire guts 21 houses in Cotabato
Philippines Oct 30 2012 “Houses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 30 to 69 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire guts 21 houses in Cotabato
Updated: 2012-10-31-13:45
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A fire of still undetermined origin razed 21 houses in a slum area here past 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, dislocating 47 families, mostly ethnic Maguindanaons.
Responding members of the city’s fire bureau had to take time to control the conflagration due to loud explosions from powerful firecrackers and pyrotechnics and sporadic bursts of gunfire from combusting ammunition in at least two burning houses.
The city’s fire marshal, Adam Guiamad, said it took them about 15 to 20 minutes to fully put off the fire.
Guimad, citing initial reports by arson probers, said the fire started in a spot near the house of a barangay councilor named Ella Biruar.
“We’re still investigating what triggered that conflagration, he said.
Barangay officials said the 47 dislocated families have sought refuge in houses of relatives and friends in surrounding villages.
Radio station dxMS reported having received information from evacuees that the fire started in a drug den that operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency raided shortly before the conflagration.
PDEA agents reportedly arrived at the scene while several drug dependents were having a pot session, triggering a commotion. – John Unson
Websource: Philstar
http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=865418