Seven houses were razed to the ground in Cebu City in a dawn fire, while a separate incident destroyed at least 10 establishments. 

The fire broke out in Sitio Alaska, Barangay Mambaling at past 3 a.m. on January 21, 2025.

Three were hurt, including a mother who wrapped her arms around her two children as the blaze spread and engulfed their house.

Analyn Alegado, the 47-year-old mother, sustained blisters on her hands and arms.

She said that they were jerked out of sleep and were still half-awake when they learned that their house was on fire. She said she had a hard time untying a piece of wire that she used to lock the house door.

It was a good thing, Alegado said, that her brother, identified as Mark Joseph Hiyas, dashed at the door and kicked it hard to open. She was able to get out alive along with her children.

It was reported that the fire started in Alegado's house but she said she does not have any idea as to the cause of the fire.

Four of the seven houses were razed, while three were damaged partially.

Based on the record of the Cebu City Fire Office, six families or 16 individuals were affected. 

The fire left behind approximately P750,000 in damages.

As of this writing, fire personnel are yet to determine the cause of the fire.

The fire victims have called out for help as all their belongings were destroyed by the fire.

They sought temporary shelter at the gym of Sitio Alaska and were taken care of by personnel of the City Social Welfare Office.

Meanwhile, a huge fire on the eve of the Sinulog 2025 festivity destroyed 10 establishments in Barangay Carreta, Cebu City.

According to SFO2 Wendell Villanueva, spokesman of the Cebu City Fire Office, they are probing on the reported storage area that holds diesel fuel which caused the ball of fire on Saturday evening, January 18, 2025.

Damages were estimated to have reached close to P4 million.