Authorities reported that two people sustained injuries early Monday morning when a fire broke out in a residential area in Barangay 818, Sta. Ana, Manila and the two victims, who suffered wounds from the blaze, received first aid from emergency responders.

The fire reached the third alarm, affecting five houses. At least 12 fire trucks responded to extinguish the blaze.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Manila, responders faced challenges as the houses on fire were located far from the main road.

“The only challenge was getting inside. Our firetrucks and our responders had to get closer because, if you notice, the houses were far from the main road,” Fire Senior Inspector Sedfrey de Guzman, commander of BFP Manila Station 3, said.

RJ Canilao, one of the affected residents, said he noticed explosions and suffocating smoke.

“I was still awake. They were screaming. When I looked up at our rooftop, things were exploding. The fire was already big. The smoke was suffocating. So I woke up my parents. Then we called the barangay officers,” he said.