Some families were busy doing chores or getting ready to have lunch when they had to scamper and save their belongings, as a fire broke out shortly before noon yesterday.

When the flames were put out, at least 170 families were left without homes near Cebu City’s pier area.

Some P4.25 million in properties have gone up in smoke in the city so far this month.

Yesterday’s blaze spread in the slum areas of Sitios Sto. Niño, San Vicente Ferrer and Sitio Silangan Uno in Barangay Tinago and Silangan Dos in Barangay Tejero, all in Cebu City.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) tapped the fire at 11:29 a.m. and immediately declared a general alarm, which requires all fire stations in Metro Cebu to respond.

Two people suffered minor injuries. They did not need medical treatment, though.

It took firefighters one hour and 20 minutes to declare the fire under control, but it took them up to late afternoon to extinguish the flames.

Narrow pathways and a rowdy crowd who tried to grab fire hoses were among the factors that made the job difficult for the firefighters.

Strong winds from the nearby sea also fanned the flames.

SFO1 Alikasim Espenola initially listed 130 houses that were razed.

He estimated that the fire destroyed P850,000 worth of property.

The biggest fire so far was last Nov. 5 in Barangay Pahina Central. An estimated P3.2 million in property were razed, including at least 100 houses, three apartments and three lodging houses.

A fire in Sitio Upper Cogon, Barangay Labangon last Friday afternoon also devoured 20 houses and destroyed about P400,000 worth of property.

The three fires have cost about P4.25 million in lost property.

At 10:44 last night, a fire was reported in Barangay Tisa but it was put under control right away.

But two houses of Tisa Barangay Captain Eddie Cabulao got burned. His neighbor’s house was also raized.

Fire investigators placed damage to property at P400,000.

In Tinago, village chief Joel Garganera told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday that for his barangay alone, at least 170 families were displaced.

Apart from the houses that were destroyed in Tinago, the San Vicente Ferrer chapel and the City Nutrition Scholar Building also went up in smoke.

A hardware store was spared because of the firewall put up by the establishment.

Espenola said he has yet to determine what caused the fire that started in a house at the interior portion of Sitio Silangan Uno.

Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who went to the area, facilitated the release of foods to the victims.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña also went to the scene.

In meantime, all the displaced families will be sheltered in the sports complexes of both barangays, Carillo said.