A MASSIVE fire that tore through a residential community along NIA Road in Pinyahan village, Quezon City, destroyed 80 to 95 percent of houses in the area, rendering 4,000 families homeless, barangay (village) officials said Saturday. The fire was raised to the first alarm at 9:01 p.m. and then to the 5th alarm at 9:44 p.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region (BFP-NCR). The blaze was later downgraded to Task Force Bravo at 11:18 p.m. and was declared out at 5:17 a.m. on Saturday, March 7. Barangay officials said the Quezon City Social Services Development Department was still assessing the damage and validating the number of affected households following the massive fire. Authorities estimated that each affected household has about four family members, saying the number of displaced residents could easily reach thousands. Many residents were forced to spend the night along nearby roads after the fire destroyed their homes. The BFP-NCR said fewer than 100 fire trucks responded to the incident as firefighters battled the blaze, rapidly ripping through the community. Fire officials noted that most houses in the area were made of light materials, which allowed the flames to spread quickly. Responders also had difficulty accessing portions of the community because fire trucks could not easily enter the narrow interior areas, authorities said. Authorities opened five evacuation centers, including the Pinyahan Covered Court at the National Irrigation Administration compound and the Pinyahan Church, where modular tents, food and hygiene kits were distributed. The BFP said it was still investigating the cause of the fire, the number of houses destroyed, and the overall damage from the incident. The Quezon City government was expected to provide financial assistance to affected families.