Over 40 houses were destroyed by a dawn fire in Iloilo City on June 17, 2024.

The fire engulfed a total of 44 houses made of light materials in Barangays Tanza Bonifacio and Rizal Estanzuela City Proper in Iloilo City.

The fire broke out at around 2 a.m. but was controlled by firefighters from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at past 4 a.m. after it was raised to fourth alarm. 

The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Center said that around 300 individuals were affected. 

At least 60 affected families in Tanza Bonifacio were evacuated to the Rizal Elementary School, while 24 families in Rizal Estanzuela sought temporary shelter at the barangay hall. 

BFP investigators, as of posting time, are yet to verify information that an unattended candle used to illumine a household has caused the fire. 

A nine-year-old boy allegedly lit the candle before he went to sleep. 

The boy was reportedly able to run out of their burning house. 

Damage brought by the fire was pegged at P670,000.