MANILA — On Monday night, December 29, at least eighteen homes were affected by a fire that started at Sgt. Fabian Yabut Street, Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo in Makati City.

According to a report from the Makati Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire was reported around 8:11 p.m. and was raised to first alarm right away.

Due to the extent of the fire, it was raised to second and third alarms a few minutes later.

Around 8:51 p.m., the fire was declared under control, and at 9:41 p.m., it was totally put out.

A residential neighborhood was engulfed by the fire. There were no recorded fatalities or injuries from the incident.

Firefighters arrived at the scene promptly, according to Fire Inspector Marc Niko Cando, Acting Chief of Operations at the Makati City Fire Station.

Cando said, “Wala po tayong casualty.”

The public was also reminded by the official to stay vigilant and to contact the emergency hotline right away in the case of a fire.

Those impacted by the fire were temporarily brought to the Guadalupe Nuevo Covered Court, according to the Makati Social Welfare Department. As of 1:30 a.m., the evacuation center had a list of 23 families, or 98 individuals.

Some of the victims had already gone to rest in their homes. They were startled to hear the screaming, according to Mildred Manlapaz.

He said, “Nanonood lang ako ng TV… biglang may tumakbong may sunog, nagsisigaw na ‘Sunog!’ kaya tumakbo na lang talaga ako nang tumakbo papalayo. Nagpuputukan na e, may usok na.”

He also mentioned how little he had saved.“Eto lang dala ko, damit. Walang nabitbit,” he said that, given that he was still getting ready for the New Year, he didn’t anticipate this happening to them.

Ma. Estrella Caparas, another resident, claimed that before they saw the fire, they first smelled smoke.

He said, “Nakatingin ako sa kisame namin, pumapasok na pala yung usok galing sa labas. Lumalabas na yung apoy. Galit na galit na yung apoy.” They only saved a wallet and some IDs.

Some of those affected left the evacuation center to be with family, according to Rabboni Saipudin of the Makati Social Welfare Department.

He explained, “Hindi po lahat kasi, I think, ang iba po doon ay nagstay with the relative outside the evacuation center.”

He said that a medical team from the Makati Health Department has been sent to give immediate medical assistance, and the local government has also supplied tents and non-food items. To ascertain the fire victims’ additional demands, an ocular inspection of the area will also be conducted on.

“Makati LGU ang nagpo-provide ng financial assistance sa mga fire victims,” Saipudin said.

The cause of the fire and the total cost of the damage are still being investigated into by the authorities.

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