BONTOC, Mt. Province – Eighteen families composed of 87 people lost their homes as fire struck a residential and business area here in the early hours of Tuesday, April 11. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) said nine student boarders were also affected by the fire that gutted 11 structures, three cars and one tricycle in Poblacion here. Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr., immediately issued Executive Order No.18-2023 declaring the suspension of classes in all levels, both public and private schools, to ensure the health and safety of the students. The massive fire in the center of the capital town of the province occurred at 2:00 a.m. on April 11. It lasted for over five hours before it was declared out at 7:20 am. As of this writing, the Bureau of Fire and Protection-Mt. Province has yet to release a statement on the cause of the fire and the extent of property damaged, as the investigation is underway. No one was reported killed, injured or missing in the fire. The main road in Poblacion is now temporarily closed to traffic while the clearing operation is underway. The affected residents are now temporarily staying at the All Saints Missionary compound. Currently BFP-MP personnel, including responding firefighters from the neighboring towns of Sadanga, Bauko, Sabangan and Sagada; Mountain Province Police Provincial Office; along with other private water delivery services and the community of Bontoc are conducting a clearing operation for the safety of residents. The Poblacion was temporarily cut off from power supply as personnel of the Mountain Province Electric Cooperative started to clear the electric wires for the safety of the people. The staff of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) - Mountain Province, in coordination with the Bontoc MDRRMC, immediately distributed food packs and hygiene kits to the evacuees.