Amidst preparations for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the Philippine Red Cross immediately dispatched its firefighting volunteers and two teams of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel when a huge fire broke out at Market 3, Brgy. NBBN in Navotas City this afternoon.

The fire broke out around 2:20 PM and immediately blazed through a cold storage facility and a surrounding residential area, hitting the 3rd alarm.

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon immediately dispatched from PRC’s Malabon and Caloocan City Chapters a firetruck with six trained firefighting volunteers, augmented by two ambulance units with six trained EMS personnel to provide first aid support to the area.

“Pinaaalalahanan natin ang ating mga kababayan na mag-ingat at maging mapagmatyag sa anumang pangangib, lalo na ngayong bisperas ng bagong taon,” said Chairman Gordon.

As of press writing, the exact numbers of families and houses affected are still being assessed, but the PRC team on the ground estimates that about 100 houses around the burnt cold storage facility have been affected. The fire was reported to be under control as of 5:45 PM.

PRC will send hot meals and provide other relief items to the affected families once an official evacuation center is established by the local government.