By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least 10 houses were destroyed, while two others were damaged, following a fire early yesterday morning in Bacolod City’s Barangay 39.

The Bacolod City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said they received the fire call around 12:05 a.m. reporting the home owned by a certain Rey Delmonte was ablaze.

The BFP and local fire volunteer groups immediately raced to the scene.

The blaze had quickly spread throughout the neighborhood as most of the homes were reportedly made of light materials. The fire eventually reached “Third Alarm” status and lasted for at least 40 minutes.

BFP arson investigators later determined the blaze was caused by an unattended lit candle left atop a plastic dresser located on the second floor of Delmonte’s residence.

Authorities estimated the damaged at P180,000.

There was also one reported injury, although BFP noted the individual’s injuries were minor./DGB, WDJ