At least 15 houses were destroyed in a fire that hit a residential area in Barangay Ninoy Aquino, Angeles City, leaving 28 families displaced, authorities said.

The fire displaced 98 individuals and reached the first alarm before firefighters put it out after nearly an hour.

SFO1 Eller Jed Mendoza, chief investigator of the Angeles City Fire Station, said the fire spread quickly because most of the houses were made of light materials.

“'Yung mga bahay po ay gawa sa light materials at ang halos mga nakatira dito ay halos hindi po sa kanila ang lupang kinatitirikan ng mga bahay nila na gawa sa tolda, yero, at mga kahoy. At dahil din po may mga puno sa paligid nila, 'yung mga dahon hindi nila naalis, at 'yun po nag-cause po iyon na labinlimang kabahayan po ang nasunog,” he said.

Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, which remains under investigation. However, initial findings point to a possible electrical source.

“Wala pa po tayong definite cause ng sunog at under investigation po ito. Pero po sa paunang investigation po natin, may mga nagsasabi na 'yung sunog nanggaling po sa kuryente na nakasabit doon sa halaman. At dahil maraming tuyong dahon at nasa tolda po ng bubong ng bahay, agad po itong nagliyab,” Mendoza said.

No deaths or injuries were reported in the incident.

The Angeles City Social Welfare and Development Office has provided assistance to the affected families, including food and non-food items for their immediate needs.

The victims also received psychological first aid to help them cope with the emotional impact of the fire.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the blaze, as of press time.