Following a fire that razed a residential area along Commonwealth Avenue on December 28, 2025, nearly 50 families are set to welcome the New Year in evacuation centers.

Initial reports said the blaze broke out at Riverside Extension along San Pascual Street at around 8:43 p.m., displacing close to 100 families or nearly 500 individuals.

Barangay Commonwealth Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Kagawad Kurl Dela Fuente said the fire was initially believed to have been caused by the use of illegal firecrackers, although other possible causes are still being looked into.

“As announced, this is said to have been caused by the use of illegal fireworks. Of course, there are hearsays that other possible causes may have been involved, but [investigation] efforts are ongoing to confirm the real cause,” he said.

Dela Fuente added that several livelihoods were affected by the blaze, which escalated to the fifth alarm by 9:33 p.m. and was declared under control by 11:43 p.m. Sunday night.

He said the affected residents were immediately assisted by the Quezon City government through the Social Services Development Department, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Health Department, and Department of Engineering.

“Some are currently in evacuation sites, we have 44 families in Unit 4 Plaza and 4 families in San Pascual Barangay Outpost while the rest have stayed with their relatives,” Dela Fuente said.

To help ease the burden of displaced residents during the New Year festivities, Dela Fuente noted that a year-end activity will be organized for families temporarily staying in evacuation centers.

“Together with the help of the youth leaders and members of Unit 4 Youth Association (U4YA), we have prepared a short surprise program and a fruit basket for them. The youth organization is supposed to have a year end party that will be held here in their plaza but we talked to them to offer and hold the party with and for those affected by the fire,” he said.