A massive fire that broke out in Dadeldhura district headquarters on Saturday night has been doused after eight hours. The fire has destroyed 21 shops at the main market place in Baghkhor. According to the preliminary police reports and the locals, the fire may have destroyed properties worth Rs 1.5 billion. “The exact loss of properties is yet to be ascertained,” said Chief District Officer Shivaraj Joshi, “Around a dozen concrete buildings and 21 shops have been completely destroyed in the fire . CDO Joshi informed that the District Administration Office will from a probe team and collect the necessary details of the loss. Meanwhile, the locals were agitated that the fire trucks were not brought on time which caused the fire to escalate and went out of control. The adjoining houses had to be demolished to contain the fire after there were no fire trucks on the scene.