Some 50 houses were destroyed while 100 families were rendered homeless when a fire hit a neighborhood in Sampaloc, Manila yesterday afternoon.

No one was reported injured during the blaze.

Fire probers said the fire, which broke out at 12:30 p.m. yesterday, started from the house of one Gil Batan. Batan’s house was located on Matimyas Street in Sampaloc, Manila.

The fire engulfed Batan’s house, which was made of light materials, and spread toward adjacent shanties in the neighborhood.

Firemen put out the blaze at 3:25 p.m. yesterday.

Arson probers theorized that a lighted candle could have triggered the blaze. Damage to property is yet to be established by arson probers.