QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES — A massive structural fire ripped through an informal settler community under the Culiat Bridge II in Quezon City early on Sunday, July 12, 2026 leaving dozens of families homeless and reducing 46 houses to ashes.

The fire erupted in the quiet morning hours and raced through the tightly packed settlement, leaving terrified residents with no time to save anything but themselves.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Quezon City field office, the alarm was first raised at approximately 8:45 AM. Because the majority of the homes beneath the overpass were constructed from lightweight, highly combustible materials such as wood, plastic, and scrap plywood, the flames multiplied within minutes.

Thick, black smoke billowed from beneath the bridge, completely engulfing the busy roadway above and forcing traffic authorities to temporarily close the affected lanes to motorists. Firefighters faced significant challenges navigating the narrow alleys leading into the settlement, requiring them to link multiple hoses together to reach the heart of the inferno.

Terrified residents scrambled to save what few belongings they could manage, though most were entirely unsuccessful due to how quickly the fire moved. "We were just preparing breakfast when someone started shouting that there was a fire," said one affected resident, holding her young child. "By the time we ran outside, the heat was already unbearable. We couldn’t save anything. Everything we own is gone."

Volunteers from the Philippine Red Cross and local barangay personnel arrived shortly after to set up emergency triage stations. Miraculously, despite the speed and intensity of the fire, no fatalities have been reported. A few residents and volunteer responders were treated on-site for minor smoke inhalation and superficial abrasions.

The BFP officially declared "fire out" after nearly two hours of aggressive firefighting. Preliminary assessments indicate that at least 46 houses were completely leveled, displacing over 80 families. The local government of Quezon City has opened a nearby evacuation center to provide temporary shelter, hot meals, hygiene kits, and emergency medical assistance to the displaced victims.

Arson investigators are currently on-site sifted through the debris to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Initial theories point toward either an electrical short circuit from substandard wiring or an unattended liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove, though a formal report has yet to be finalized.