At least 138 houses were gutted in separate fire incidents in Panchagarh Friday afternoon. A fire that broke out around 4:45pm gutted about 130 houses in Bashbari village under the district headquarters. Fire fighters and locals said the fire originated from a short circuit at the house owned by Moksed Ali. On information, two fire engines from the district town and Tetulia rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flame after two and half hours. A second fire in Darkhor village in Atwari Upazila burnt down eight houses, firefighters and locals said. The fire broke out around 3:30pm from an earthen stove at the house owned by Nurul Haque, they added. On information, firefighters rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after one hour.