Manila Bulletin, March 22, 2007
A one-and-a-half-year-old boy died after he was trapped inside their burning apartment in Sta. Mesa, Manila before noon yesterday.
The charred remains of Audre Fernandez were retrieved from the burnt apartment by his father Servillano.
He was found lying underneath the stairs at the left side of the house shortly after firefighters put out the fire and sifted through the Fernandez residence.
Senior Fire Officer 1 Rodelio Nelvis of the Manila Fire Department (MFD) reported that the fire started at 10:53 a.m. inside the Fernandez residence at 4805 Road 2 V. Mapa Street in Sta. Mesa. Fifteen firetrucks rushed to the scene.
The parents were unable to save the baby as flames spread quickly towards the rest of the three-door, two-story apartment.
Aside from the apartment, at least three other houses were gutted down by the fire before it was placed under control at 11:23 a.m.
The fire, investigators said, quickly spread because the houses were made of light materials.
The apartment is owned by the Estabillo family and occupied by the family of the victim.
Arson investigators said damage to property was estimated at R100,000.
Nelvis said they are still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
The fire was the 16th reported to have hit the metropolis during the Fire Prevention Month of March.
It occurred just a day after three fires broke out one after the other before dawn in Pasig City, Makati City and Parañaque.
More than 200 families were rendered homeless in the Pasig City fire on Tuesday.
On Monday, four people were injured and close to 100 families were rendered homeless when a fire hit two residential areas in Mandaluyong City.
