MANILA, Philippines – A Saturday night blaze gutted more than 300 houses in Caloocan City, leaving over 1,000 families homeless.

The fire, which burned down hundreds of houses along Samson Road in Caloocan, began past 6 p.m. and reached general alarm which called on all available frifighters and firetrucks in Metro Manila to respond. The blaze was put past 11 p.m.

According to the initial investigation of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the fire started at the house of a certain Virgilio Corsino. The blaze had something to do with his alleged practice of electricity tapping. He and his neighbor reportedly share an electricity meter.

The fire spread quickly because the houses along Samson Road were made of light materials. Several explosions were also heard when the blaze reached some liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks.

There were no reported fatalities though some residents sustained small injuries.

Investigators are also looking into a report of a missing child who is feared to be dead.

Most of the victims of the blaze are temporarily housed at the fire station and police station of Caloocan.

Late response

Some residents complained to ABS-CBN News that firefighters did not respond immediately to the situation even if the Caloocan Fire Station was just across their area.

Fire victim Evelyn Caparas said, “Yong bumbero unang-una namin tinawag, hindi pumunta. Dapat ‘di kakalat ‘yan ng ganyan.”

The BFP, for its part, said that firefighters were caught in traffic. They also had problems with their water supply because their firemen just came from another fire in EDSA-Caloocan.

“Nag-lock ang mga sasakyan, walang tubig, walang sasakyan, walang atras. Barado ang pagpasok ng firetrucks,” noted BFP-National Capital Region (NCR) Chief Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta.

The firefighters also had a difficult time getting through the side streets because of the residents who were on the rush to save their belongings.

“Nagkabuhul-buhol kami dito dahil sa sikip ng mga daan, kaya karamihan sa amin walang nailigtas,” lamented fire victim Rito Montalban. – With a report from Wheng Hidalgo, ABS-CBN News