Fire Officer 3 Renato Rector said the fire started at around 11:25 p.m. from a house occupied by one Carlos Tolentino at 131 Inocencio street.
Rector said 13 classsrooms of the Padre Zamora Elementary School located at the back of tthe house were also affected by the blaze.
Some P2 million worth of property was lost to the blaze, which was declared under control at 2 a.m. and out three hours later, the arson prober said.
Rector said flames had spread quickly because the area is densely populated. "Di naman squatter’s area, pero dikit-dikit talaga yung mga bahay."
"We are confirming reports that the fire sparked from lighted candles and gas lamps," said Rector.
He said Tolentino used candles and gas lamp as sources of light because their electric power supply was disconnected.
Rector added that no one was reported hurt during the blaze. – Edu Punay