MANILA — A fire, which is said to have started from a gas lamp thrown to a spouse during a domestic quarrel, burned 267 houses, leaving 800 families homeless. The fire razed for two hours, from 10 pm on January 16 when many residents are about to sleep or are already sleeping. Men and women grabbed their children, saving very little of their possessions. Their houses, which were made of light materials, were quickly eaten by the fire. The Gasangan area of Baseco was burned to the ground. Two people were reported dead and scores were injured.
The morning after, the fire victims remain in the area, building tents or resting within the perimeter of their old homes. Relief goods have arrived from the city government and from electoral candidates.
Members of the Samahan ng Mamamayan sa Baseco (SMB) helped their neighbors even when their own homes were under threat by the fast spreading fire. “The fire was four houses away from my house. I was glad that it didn’t reach my house,” said Mario, member of SMB.
Some residents complained that fire rescue came too late or too reluctantly, when the first fire fighters who arrived came without water and moved too slowly to get inside the community.
Some residents feared that this maybe another “pocket demolition” scheme. In November 2009, there were threats of demolition in Baseco. (Emil Mercado / Tudla Productions)
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