Seven families were displaced after a fire gutted around 10 houses on Engracia Street in Elysian Subdivision, Marulas, Valenzuela City on Saturday, Feb. 18.
According to the initial report of the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP), the first alarm was declared at 5:58 a.m. and the second alarm at 6:03 a.m.
It was put under control at 6:33 a.m. and was extinguished at 6:35 a.m.
The firefighters said the blaze immediately spread because the houses were made of light materials, and there were almost no gaps between the houses.
The Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS) said no one was injured in the incident.
BFP said a lit candle allegedly caused the fire. It said that a witness reported that one of the affected families had no electricity and only used candles for light.
The affected families are currently staying at the Valenzuela National High School.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie "Wes" Gatchalian immediately visited the evacuation center to provide hot meals and sanitary kits to the victims.