A FIRE gutted 20 houses in Purok 4, Sales Street, Barangay 28-C, early Friday morning, leaving one woman injured and 20 families displaced.
Fire Senior Inspector Frances Mae Sendrijas, spokesperson for the Bureau of Fire and Protection XI, identified the injured woman as 41-year-old Crisanta Vargas, who sustained second-degree burns on her right arm.
The fire, which started around 5:30 a.m., quickly engulfed the residential area. Firefighters and volunteers swiftly responded to the scene, successfully containing the blaze at 7:51 a.m.
Investigators believe an overheated cellphone charger caused the fire, resulting in an estimated P1.35 million in damages.
The affected families have been temporarily sheltered at the Barangay Gymnasium and are receiving assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development XI.
Photo: Bing Gonzales
