At least 20 families were displaced after a fire razed around seven houses in a more than 1,000-square-meter area in Barangay Rosary Heights Cotabato City.

Authorities said the fire broke out past 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and was put out after nearly an hour.

The fire reportedly spread quickly as most of the houses affected were made of light materials.

No one was reported hurt in the incident.

The families affected were given assistance by the local government.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), a lit candle left unattended may have caused the fire as the area had no electricity at that time due to damage in the power lines of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

“Lumalabas na posibleng naiwang kandila ang naging dahilan ng sunog sa naturang lugar gawa nga ng alas-12 pa lang ng tanghali kahapon sa lungsod ng Cotabato, wala nang kuryente dahil nga sa pagkasira sa kawad ng kuryente sa National Grid Corporation of the Philippines diyan naman ito sa Pikit, North Cotabato,” BFP Cotabato City Spokesperson, FO2 Anthony Henilo, said.

BFP is still assessing the cost of damage.