Over P19 million in properties went up in smoke when a fire razed 100 houses in Barangay 26 at past midnight Wednesday.

Cagayan de Oro City Fire Marshall Oscar Abecia said around 168 families were affected by the blaze that started at little over 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Abecia said the fire began at the home of Jessie Ariento in Barangay 26, started by what investigators believed was an overloaded circuit.

He said they are also looking into reports that an overheated ceiling fan caused the fire in Ariento's home.

Based on initial investigation, witnesses said the fire burned through the electric cables, causing a loud explosion. Black smoke followed.

Abecia said when they reached the area the fire had already spread to the other houses, easily consuming them since they were close to each other and were made of light materials.

Abecia said it took them nearly three hours to put out the fire because the roads leading to the area were narrow.

Fortunately no one was hurt in the blaze since the residents there managed to immediately alert the firefighters.

Social Welfare Assistant Epenito Montebon of the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) said based on their estimates about 100 houses were destroyed and about 168 families were affected.

Aside from this, there were 78 boarders consisting of workers and students that were displaced by the fire.

The CSWD said it has provided food like rice, noodles, and sardines for displaced families who are temporarily housed at the barangay hall and the covered court in their area.

Mayor Vicente Emano called on the families to stay in their area while the City Government provides aid so they would not be deprived of their lots.

Emano said a Chinese trader is laying claim on the lots occupied by the displaced residents in Barangay 26. He said the trader could not claim the land since this falls under government property.

Emano said he wondered how the trader managed to secure a title on the lands occupied by the displaced residents considering that the area is public land.