Fire razes 150 houses, 10 commercial shops in Butuan City

Firefighters battle a blaze that gutted at least 150 houses and 10 commercial establishments in Butuan City on Monday, March 9. Photo by Erwin Mascariñas, Inquirer Mindanao

BUTUAN CITY, Agusan del Norte, Philippines —At least 150 residential houses and 10 commercial establishments were razed down in a four-hour fire on Monday (March 9) in BarangaAt least 150 residential houses and 10 commercial establishments were razed down in a four-hour fire on Monday (March 9) in Barangay Ong Yiu here.y Ong Yiu here.

The fire started at around 3:40 p.m. and was fully extinguished close to 8 p.m.

According to witnesses, the blaze started in a house in Purok 7 and spread to the neighboring structures in the village.

It was the largest fire to have hit Butuan in recent years.

The area of the fire is near a Muslim community but its house of worship, known as the Darussalam Masjid, was spared from the flames.

Villagers said many of the burned houses were being rented, hosting at least two families.

Bureau of Fire Protection investigators are still determining the cause of the fire and extent of the damage.

/atm