A sawmill and two houses were razed to the ground after a fire broke out in Barangay Bayabas, Cagayan de Oro City shortly before midnight on Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

According to the owner of the sawmill, Domingo Canda, he had already gone to bed when the fire erupted.

“Pag-abli nako sa pertahan, kalayo naman… ako kay naa man deperensya akong mata, nakurat ko, mao to ako gisipa ang dingding nilusot na lang ko sa ilalom,” Canda said.

The fire was raised to third alarm as the houses affected, and the houses around the area, were made of light materials.

The fire was put out morning the next day.

“Naglisod mi kay ang involved sawmill o bansohan daghan siya stock nga lumber, dayon naa pay sawdust sa 1000 sqm na flooring… naay sawdust dayon iyang atop nakatabon sa lumber dili siya direktang maigo sa tubig namo,” Kauswagan Fire Station Investigator, FO3 Jonas Maandig, said.

The sawmill owner believes that the fire may have been intentional, noting that the wood was wet from recent rains.

The cost of damage was estimated at P750,000.

“Nakadungog ko nga naa kunoy nag-inom pagkahitabo pero dili ta kasiguro,” Canda added.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. While arson is one possible angle, investigators are also looking into other potential causes, including electrical issues.

“Apil ang arson nga among tan-awon kung tinuod nga naay nagtuyo ug sunog but sa karon one of the reason lang siya but pwde gihapon siya electrical o any cause sa sunog,” Maandig said.