CAGAYAN DE ORO -- A predawn fire burned down at least 175 houses in an urban slum in this city on Wednesday, leaving over 200 families homeless barely a month before Christmas.

Most of the victims, who included two of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro’s staff members, said they were awaken by the huge blaze around 4 a.m. and hardly had the time to pack all their belongings to safety.

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Some, like 45-year-old Aida Flores, fled from the raging inferno with only her clothes on.

"This is all I've got, and my life of course," said Flores, clasping an image of the Sto. Niño, weeping as she helplessly watched the flames devouring her neighborhood in Barangay 22.

Fire probers said the blaze started in a boarding house in Little Cebu, Barangay Lapasan, and spread to Barangays 22 and 26 -- areas that are near the Agora, where pockets of slum areas and business establishments intermingle.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Rosalito Caratao said the fire started inside an apartment in Little Cebu, Barangay Lapasan.

Firefighters battled the fire for over two hours, completely putting it out past 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Initial investigation showed that one of the couples renting the apartment owned by a certain Edgar Lumawag was having a fight and, in the ensuing altercation, one of them tossed a lighted kerosene lamp on the floor.

The fire immediately spread to the neighborhood, whose houses were commonly made of light materials. From Barangay 22, the blaze spilled to Barangay 26, reducing to ashes at least 16 houses in the area.

At least 10 million worth of properties were burned down, while eight suffered minor injuries, said SP03 Caratao.

The cost of the damage is expected to rise once fire probers complete their investigation.

Barangay 22 chairperson Alexander dela Cerna, whose village saw the largest devastation, assured that those who lost their homes in the blaze would be provided temporary shelter.

Relief goods from the City Social Welfare and Development, he said, were immediately distributed Wednesday afternoon.

Jenefer Besere, managing editor of Sun.Star Superbalita, said sleeping mats, pillows, blankets and mosquito nets remain the pressing need of the fire victims.

Besere, along with her cousin Annabelle Ricalde -- a Sun.Star reporter, were among the hundreds of victims in Barangay 22. (DVAIII/SVB of Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)