BONTOC, Mountain Province – Hectares of land were affected by forest fires in two different locations in Barangay Bontoc Ili on Feb. 14.
Based on a report from the Bontoc Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the first forest fire was in Sitio Napu, Barangay Bontoc Ili.
The Bontoc EOC received the information from the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station (MFS) at 4:40 p.m. and immediately coordinated with the concerned agencies and responded to the incident site.
The fire burned the makeshift structure owned by Encarnacion Tibang and rented by Ariz Bugarin from Santiago City, Isabela with an estimated damage of P7,000.
It spread to the surrounding dried vegetation, resulting in the burning of 15.72 hectares of land.
The fire was contained at 7:40 p.m. through the efforts of the Bontoc MFS, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Bontoc Emergency Response Team, Bontoc Municipal Police Station, Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Sabangan, and volunteers.
The responders proceeded to Balitian, Barangay Bontoc Ili where another fire was reported. It was contained 10:20 p.m.
No casualties were reported in the fire incidents, causes of which are yet to be determined.
Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr., who also chairs the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, asked the public’s cooperation in the campaign for fire prevention and safety.
He appealed to the public to be mindful of the impact of forest fires on the environment, public health, and the safety of motorists and responders, especially since the recent forest fire incidents were near the road and residential areas. – Alpine Killa-Malwagay
