A fire that broke out before dawn Thursday in a residential area in Sta. Cruz, Manila escalated to a fourth alarm as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze in a densely populated community.

The fire started around 2 a.m. in the Mayhaligue-Masangkay area and was first raised to a first alarm at 2:46 a.m., according to initial fire alerts. It was elevated to a second alarm at 2:57 a.m., a third alarm at 3:27 a.m., and reached a fourth alarm by 3:53 a.m.

Firefighters continued battling the blaze for several hours before it was declared under control at around 5:06 a.m. Authorities said the area has yet to be declared fire-out as smoke remains visible from structures damaged by the fire.

Initial reports by RH Boy Gonzales indicated that most of the affected houses were made of light materials, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames. Narrow roads in the area also hampered firefighting operations, allowing only a small fire truck to access the site at the onset.

A volunteer fire truck from Obrero Pumper reportedly ran out of water during the response, prompting residents to assist in efforts to contain the fire.

There were also unconfirmed reports that a nearby school may have been affected, but authorities have yet to verify this.

As of writing, residents displaced by the fire along Mayhaligue Street have been temporarily sheltered at Arellano High School, where disaster relief operations are ongoing.

No official reports on casualties or the total number of affected families were immediately available. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.