A 70-YEAR-OLD man perished while his wife and granddaughter were injured in a fire that razed eight houses in a closely-built community in Dipolog City, the capital of Zamboanga del Norte.

Chief Inspector Reggy Olmedo, Dipolog City fire marshal, said the fire broke out around 4:15 a.m. Wednesday, September 25, at Purok Malampuson in Turno village in that city.

Olmedo identified the fatality as Benjamin Quintero, 70, who succumbed to severe burns.

Wounded were Quintero’s wife, Evihelda, and granddaughter, Cristy, 10. Both suffered first degree burns.

Olmedo said investigation showed the fire broke out at the residence of the Quinteros and rapidly spread to nearby houses made of light materials as a lighted candle was left unattended.

He said Benjamin, due to a power interruption, lighted a candle and returned to sleep. Fire out was declared around 5:30 a.m. (SunStar Philippines)