Fire investigators are looking into a possible electrical fault as the cause of a blaze that destroyed a residential house in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur and left more than half a million pesos in damage, authorities said.

The fire hit a two-story house in Barangay Malaya. By the time firefighters arrived, flames had already spread across parts of the structure, some of which were made of wood, allowing the fire to intensify quickly.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Cervantes said initial findings point to a problem involving the house’s electrical system.

“Sa pag-conduct namin ng initial investigation, mayroon po kaming nakikita at malaki ang kutob o paniniwala namin na galing ito sa problema ng electrical system ng bahay. Sa may bandang fuse box nila,” SFO4 Darius Calpo, acting fire marshal of the Cervantes Fire Station, said.

Relatives of the homeowner said family members were outside the house when the incident happened. They only noticed the fire after their grandmother stepped out and saw the flames.

The BFP said the fire affected one family composed of four individuals and burned an estimated 64-square-meter residential structure.

Authorities estimated property damage at more than P500,000.

Firefighters placed the incident under first alarm status and declared the fire out after about 30 minutes of operations. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Meanwhile, a separate fire involving bamboo trees was reported in Barangay Sta. Maria in Binalonan, Pangasinan on the same evening. Authorities said the incident was immediately reported and quickly extinguished.

With power interruptions and fluctuating electricity supply affecting some areas, the BFP reminded the public to observe electrical safety measures.

“Ugaliin nating i-off o patayin ‘yung circuit breaker natin o fuse box bago tayo umalis ng bahay. At ganun din ‘yung pag-alis (unplug) natin ng mga saksakan o anumang appliances na nakasaksak sa ating bahay,” Calpo said.