At least 85 families lost their homes to a fire that hit a residential area in Santa Clara, Old Santa Mesa, Manila early morning on Saturday.

FIRE IN SANTA MESA Residents look for reusable materials from their charred homes after a fire in Manila on Saturday. PHOTO BY RUSSELL PALMA

The fire started at 4:01 a.m. and reached fifth alarm. Fire out was declared at 6:16 a.m., the Manila Fire Department reported.

Initial investigation revealed that the fire started from a house owned by Remedios Baclagon Angeles.

Firemen encountered difficulties entering the area’s narrow roads.

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Aura Castro, 36, one of the occupants of the charred houses, told fire investigators that she was cleaning her house when she heard people on the street shouting. She also heard two explosions while firemen were containing the blaze.

Fire victims temporarily sought shelter at the nearby barangay-owned Pamana Building and Multi-Purpose Building.

No one was reported injured.

The Arson Division of the Manila Fire Department is still investigating the origin of the fire.

The houses were made of light materials and were built very close to each other.

Damage was pegged at P500,000.