ILOILO CITY (PNA) — Twelve houses were totally destroyed and five others partially damaged when a fire hit a densely-populated waterfront barangay across the Fort San Pedro area here.

The blaze, which broke out at around 10 o’clock Saturday morning, reportedly originated on the upper floor of Aileen Mendoza’s residence which also serves as a boarding house located along NBI Road at Zone 8, Brgy. Veterans Village, City Proper.

Aggravated by the searing heat, the fire spread uncontrollably to other adjoining houses mostly made of mixed and light materials.

Alert city firetrucks and Volunteer Fire Brigade of the Filipino-Chinese Federation jointly battled the fire and placed it under control after half an hour.

Four persons were slightly injured with burns and for stepping on pointed nails and touching live wires during the stampede at the height of the fire. They were immediately treated at the nearby barangay clinic for their injuries.

A fireman was also given immediate medical attention not because of the fire but from a dog bite during mopping-up operation.

Initial findings of a team of arson probers, led by Senior Fire Officer 2 Norman Valenzuela, pointed to the likelihood that the fire might have been triggered by a short circuit originating from a ceiling fan at the upper floor of Mendoza’s residence, where neighbors saw thick, billowing smoke.

The Bureau of Fire Protection has yet to determine the property damage wrought by the fire.

Personnel from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) also proceeded to the fire scene to oversee the situation for needed emergency assistance to be extended to fire victims.

Meanwhile, a similar fire incident also leveled a residential area along Zamora Street, Brgy. VI in Roxas City, Capiz province Friday evening.