At least 20 families were displaced after a fire razed 12 houses in Barangay Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro.

Authorities said the fire may have spread quickly as most of the houses affected were made of light materials.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) raised the fire to third alarm.

“Ang challenge diri is ang piot nga lugar and ang access namo… initially, pag-abot sa first responder, lisod kaayo ang access sa lugar,” Lapasan Fire Station Chief, Insp. Louis Roy Solamo, said.

BFP said the fire started from the two-story house of the Demicillo family. Investigators are looking into unattended cooking as possible cause of the fire.

“Nag-start ni siya sa second floor, allegedly nagsugod kini sa nilung-ag sa kusina pero LPG ang gigamit sa pagluto,” Solamo added.

Damage due the fire reached around P450,000.

The families affected are taking shelter temporarily at the Sentro Kolambog covered court and were given immediate assistance.

“Atong panawagan sa katawhan nga dili lang sa safety, ang kanunay nga paglantaw sa atong puluy-anan dili nato kumpyansahan ang mga kabataan kay matud pa sa sunog hinungdan bata nag luto sa ika duhang andana sa ilang puy-anan,” Barangay Administrator, Ken Ranan, said.