By JEN BAYLON

An early morning fire caused an estimated P1.4 million worth of damage to properties and left 81 families homeless at Purok Kagaykay in Bacolod City’s Barangay 2 yesterday.

The Bacolod City Fire Station said 73 houses were destroyed, while eight others were partially damaged in the fire.

Most of the houses were made of light materials.

City fire marshal, Supt. Jenny Mae Masip said a fire call was received at 3:26 a.m., around 15 minutes after the blaze, which reportedly started from Monaliza Magbanua’s abandoned house.

Masip said Magbanua’s house was occupied by a caretaker, who had been staying for about two months.

The fire, which lasted for more than an hour, reached fourth alarm status, Masip said.

Responding teams from neighboring fire stations, such as in Talisay City, Bago City and Murcia town, were augmented to put out the fire.

No one was injured in the blaze.

Most of the affected residents are now staying at the barangay multipurpose hall.

Arson investigators alleged that the fire was due to the burning of egg trays, which were used as an improvised mosquito repellant.

In February of this year, 13 homes in the said village were gutted in a fire, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Bacolod said.

Around 250 houses in the same area were also hit by fire incidents in 2019 and 2016./JB, WDJ