A GAS lamp left unattended razed 11 houses, including the house of a barangay kagawad, and damaged one inside the Agro-Industrial Foundation Colleges of the Philippines campus at Purok 43 of Barangay 76-A at dawn Wednesday.

Sergeant Rey Buctuto of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 11 said the fire started at around 4:46 a.m. at the house of one Adriana Fernia, who owns an eatery inside the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal.

Nilo Lampios, whose house was also damaged by the fire, said that he and his neighbors noticed a gas lamp flickering inside the house of the Fernias Tuesday night when no one was home.

"They went to the cemetery and they did not return home as they opted to stay at the terminal where they have an eatery because they had to go to the market early," Lampios said.

No one was reportedly hurt during the incident.

Fernia's house was among the 11 razed to the ground. The other residents who lost their homes were Lampios two other brothers named Roger and Rene, Joan Yabo, Estrelita dela Cerna, Danilo Cuenca, Flor Lampios, Macrina Noynay, Antonio Alinsog Jr., Gennevie Oligado, and Barangay Kagawad Billy Ichon.

Lampios said they were all set to go the cemetery when the fire alarm was raised.

"It's fortunate that we haven't left yet. The fire was placed under control before it could eat up our house," Lampios said.

The fire was placed under control after an hour. Damage to property was placed at P1,250,000.

"Ang kay kagawad Ichon, mga P500,000 ang damage sa iya, siya ang dako-dako og damage diri sa amoa (Kagawad Ichon sustained the most damage)," Lampios said.

Meanwhile, Sun.Star Davao tried calling Barangay 76-A captain Celso Tizon but to no avail.

One Luz Cabanlas, staff of the barangay captain said that Tizon together with other barangay officials, were at the city hall.

"That's what our officials are following up at the City Hall because the victims have gathered just somewhere beside the school campus without even a covered court as shelter. Tizon's plan is to use the SIR basketball court as temporary shelter," said Cabanlas.

Cabanlas added that the staff of the Civil Social Services and Development Organization (CSSDO) has already extended basic help to the victims like food and clothing.