A fire that broke out early on New Year’s Day in Barangay Camp 6, Tuba, Benguet killed one person, injured two others, and destroyed 26 homes.

Damage to property was estimated at P37.5 million.

The blaze started at around 1 a.m. at The Riverside Compound during the traditional New Year’s celebrations along Kennon Road.

The fire spread quickly to homes packed closely and made mostly of light materials.

“Dikit-dikit ang mga bahay doon, tapos light materials ang construction na ginamit kaya mabilis atsaka karamihan doon kahoy ang ginamit,” FCINSP. Jesus Yango, Benguet Provincial Fire Marshal, said.

It took firefighters five hours to place the fire under control at 4:25 a.m. and to extinguish it at 6:30 a.m.

Authorities closed Kennon Road temporarily for debris clearing operations but reopened it to motorists later that day.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Benguet is still investigating the cause of the fire, as of this writing.

Residents at the area affected await further assistance as clearing operations continue.