MANILA, Philippines – Four got killed, including two children and an infant, while four others were injured when a fire hit a residential area in NIA Road, Barangay Piñahan in Quezon City early Sunday morning.

Initial reports said the fire broke out at around past 1 a.m. and it immediately reached Task Force Charlie.

The fire quickly spread out because the houses were made of light materials.

Firefighters from various local governments as well as the residents themselves joined forces to stop the fire.

Authorities believe the fire started from an unattended candle in a 3-storey house owned by a certain Ruth.

A certain Ranilo, who is living in the second floor of the house, also told ABS-CBN News that he warned the kids not to play with the candle before midnight.

"Sinabihan ko na sila na ‘wag magsindi ng kandila kasi baka magkasunog. Tapos nagising ako malakas na sunog, sa bintana na ako dumaan," he said.

It took the authorities more than 3 hours before they declared fire out at 4:20 a.m.

The casualties were identified as Erasma Baflor, 25; Arianne Joy Alcala, 7; and Alfred John Alcala, who is just 10 months old.

The authorities still cannot identify the other victim.

The fire also left 1,500 families homeless.

The damage cost is estimated at P7 million.

"Mabilis na kumalat ang apoy dahil walang firewall, light materials at dikit-dikit ang bahay... makakasalubong pa natin yung mga taong galit," said Senior Superintendent Bobby Barruelo, one of the city fire marshals.

The Bureau of Fire Protection called on the public to be extra careful now that Christmas is approaching. – Report from Jerome Lantin, ABS-CBN News