MANILA, Philippines—An hour-long fire swallowed up seven houses in a row in Valenzuela City on Friday morning, destroying at least P1.5 million worth of property.
No casualties were reported from the fire, which broke out at 8:44 a.m. in the two-story house of Judillo Natividad on L. Urrutia Street in Barangay Arkong Bato, Valenzuela City, said arson investigator FO3 Elmer Montebon.
Firefighters put out the fire at 10:07 a.m.
Initial investigation showed that the fire was caused by a lighted mosquito coil left unattended at Natividad’s house.
The residents were asleep when the small fire crawled from their sofa to the curtains. But they were aroused as the flames spread. The fire quickly crossed over to the adjacent houses, Montebon said.
Twelve fire trucks were summoned to help control the fire.
The damage to property was estimated at P1.5 million.