Fire gutted seven houses made of light materials in Purok Orchid, Barangay Zone 2 in Zamboanga City past midnight Thursday.

The fire started at the house of a certain Wilfredo Balbin and quickly spread to adjoining houses.

Balbin said he noticed smoke coming from the bathroom before ordering his family to leave the house.

He said he did not know how the fire started since they were not using candles and there was no blackout.

The fire reached the second alarm and was put out with the help of the Zamboanga City Water District past 2 a.m.

There were no reported casualties in the incident.

It was the 16th fire incident reported in Zamboanga City since the start of the year.