Fire razed four houses on M. Francisco Street corner Edang Street in Pasay City Friday morning.

Firefighters said the fire, which started past 7 a.m., reached third alarm before it was put out at 9 a.m.

Initial reports said that an overheated airconditioning unit might have caused the fire.

No casualties were reported so far.

A seven-year-old boy playing with a cigarette lighter sparked an early-morning fire that damaged at least three houses and snarled traffic in Pasay City Friday.

Radio dzBB reported that the boy, who was not named, was said to be "mentally impaired," and was playing with the lighter on the bed in his house on J. Isidro Street.

Damaged by the fire was the house of trader Tony Lacson, who reportedly owns a videoke bar along EDSA near Malibay district in Pasay City. The fire also damaged two other houses.

The report said the fire started shortly after 7 a.m.

Firefighters managed to put the fire under control less than an hour after it started, but failed to prevent traffic in the area from being snarled.

The dzBB report said the fire slowed down traffic in nearby roads, including those leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Manila Domestic Airport.