FIVE houses were razed Monday afternoon, October 14, in a fire that hit an east coast village of Zamboanga City, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported.

The BFP's Zamboanga City Fire District (ZCFD) said the fire broke out around 2 p.m. on Callejon Drive in the village of Guiwan.

The ZCFD said the fire started at the house of Joselito Pacatang and rapidly spread to nearby houses, mostly made of light materials.

The residents in the area tried, but failed, to put off the fire with pales of water.

The fire was placed under control by four responding fire trucks of the ZCFD.

The ZCFD said investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the fire and the worth of damage to properties. (SunStar Zamboanga)