The fire started at 12 in the afternoon, caused by a child playing with a burning candle. The fire spread rapidly, intensified by the blowing winds. The residents began shouting "Fire!", "Fire!", while trying to save their children, a few cloths and appliances.
In just about an hour, some 100 houses were already burned down. The narrow streets were filled with fleeing and evacuating people. Meantime, the fire trucks began arriving, their horns and wails competing with people's shouts and cries for help. The trucks had difficulty entering the fire zone because it was a depressed area with very narrow streets not suitable for vehicles, much less fire trucks. Nevertheless, the firemen tried their best to maneuver, and within a few minutes were already firing their water cannons into the blazing houses.
In just about an hour, some 100 houses were already burned down. The narrow streets were filled with fleeing and evacuating people. Meantime, the fire trucks began arriving, their horns and wails competing with people's shouts and cries for help. The trucks had difficulty entering the fire zone because it was a depressed area with very narrow streets not suitable for vehicles, much less fire trucks. Nevertheless, the firemen tried their best to maneuver, and within a few minutes were already firing their water cannons into the blazing houses.
Entering a slum fire is like entering a war zone. Burning houses, people evacuating with whatever personal possessions they could grab. One lady even managed to lift a whole chest drawer she would not have been able to carry under normal circumstances. An old frail woman saved only her treasured antique Jesus Christ Crucifix, while everything else were lost into the conflagration.
Young men and teen-agers helped the firemen extinguish the fire by throwing buckets of water into the blazed. After two hours, the fire was finally snuffed out. In the streets lay tons of materials, saved from the fire. Beside them were crying women, crying babies, and exhausted men. Five people were reportedly injured. Thankfully, no one died. But all of them suddenly became homeless now.
Young men and teen-agers helped the firemen extinguish the fire by throwing buckets of water into the blazed. After two hours, the fire was finally snuffed out. In the streets lay tons of materials, saved from the fire. Beside them were crying women, crying babies, and exhausted men. Five people were reportedly injured. Thankfully, no one died. But all of them suddenly became homeless now.
It was the fire that hit Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City on December 15, 2008. Ten days before Christmas.
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