Forest fires rage in secluded Benguet town
Published Feb 23, 2020 12:00 am
By Zaldy Comanda and JJ Landingin
BAGUIO CITY – A series of forest fires have hit the secluded town of Tublay in Benguet, with the latest breaking out at 12:30 a.m., Sunday, according to the Benguet Provincial Police Office (BPPO).
FORREST FIRE – Some 80 hectares of pine forest were razed to the ground after a lighted cigarette butt was thrown carelessly to the ground at Sitio Akiki, in Tublay, Benguet last Thursday that lasted two days. The fire was put under control with the help of residents and three fire companies from Tublay, La Trinidad and Baguio. (Photo by JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN)
Close to 80 hectares of wooded land were razed. The fire, which was believed caused by a lit cigarette butt, started in Sitio Akiki of Barangay Ambassador here last February 19, and quickly spread to adjacent sitios of Nalseb and Lusok.
Dry weather and windy conditions fanned the flames, which were fed by highly combustible dried pine needles.
Members of La Trinidad and Baguio City Fire Departments were quick to respond to help the 11-man fire crew of the Tublay BFP. Fire volunteers and residents assisted but the fire had already razed close to 80 hectare of forest land, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
BPPO Director Col. Elmer Ragay, barangay personnel from Sitio Tinuping, Barangay Eddet Kabayan in Tublay town reported that the forest fire started at around midnight, and was still ongoing as of press time.
Ragay said the Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), Kabayan police, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) responded to the fire.
Barangay councilor Julian Sumakey said responding to the fire was difficult because the “trail is too steep, stones and other debris are coming down from the burning mountain.”
“The direction of the fire is going downward,” Sumakey reported.
The February 23 fire was the latest in a series of forest fires to have hit Tublay.
Last February 19, about 75 hectares of forest land caught fire, starting at Sitio Nalseb, Barangay Ambassador in Tublay.
BFP Tublay Senior Fire Officer 4 Clarence Todyog said the February 22 fire was put under control that evening, but fire authorities could still not declare a fire out because of some smoke from the area.
"Under investigation pa kami sa cause of fire and we suspect the negligence of a person in the area, kaya nagkasunog," Todyog added.
Then at around 11 a.m., February 20, another forest fire was reported in Sitio Bawi, Barangay Bayaan, also in Tublay.
Tublay BFP responded to the incident and placed the fire under control before 5 p.m. after razing about eight hectares of forest land.
Todyog estimated that 75 hectares of forest land were damaged by the fire.
Initial reports from Police Capt Eddie Buclig, of Tublay MPS, said a barangay official called the BFP Tublay informing them of an ongoing forest fire in the area. BFP Tublay personnel led by Senior Fire Officer 1 Richard Wakas immediately responded.
Reports said residents of the barangay, with the help of men and equipment from the La Trinidad Fire Station, BFP Baguio, and police personnel, trekked an hour to the site at about 2:30 p.m.
Last February 4, a grass fire was also reported at Sitio Mamuyod of the same barangay, but this was immediately put under control.
Another forest fire was reported at Sitio Tinuping, Barangay Eddet Kabayan, Benguet.
Village councilor Julian Sumakey said the forest fire started at around 12:30 a.m of February 23. “The trail is steep, stones and other debris are falling from the burning mountain and the direction of the fire is going downward,” Sumakey said.
It was declared fire out at 2 a.m. but another forest fire ignited this time in Sitio Bawi Baranggay Bayaan also in Tublay at around 11 a.m. Members of the Tublay BFP responded and placed the fire under control just before 5 p.m. Sunday. Another 8 hectare of land was burned.
Todyog cautioned residents and motorist to refrain from throwing cigarette butts along the highway to prevent forest fires.
Pray for rain
The Diocese of Baguio has appealed for prayers for rain to help suppress the fire that has been raging in the Cordillera mountains since Wednesday last week.
The latest wildfire follows a nine-day forest fire that destroyed 150 hectares of trees in Kabayan, Benguet.
Rev. Fr. Manuel Flores, social action commission director of the Baguio diocese said, no casualties have been reported and there is no immediate need for relief “but we need rain for the wildfire to stop. We are appealing for prayers for rain,” Flores said over Church-run Radio Veritas.
“We are currently assessing the situation and helping inform our parishioners about it. Right now, we are praying for rain. Please pray for rain to help stop the wildfire,” Flores said.
Fr. Flores said one of the reasons for the fire might be the practice of kaingin (slash and burn) which spreads to the cogon grass and results in a wildfire. (With a report from Christina Hermoso)
FORREST FIRE – Some 80 hectares of pine forest were razed to the ground after a lighted cigarette butt was thrown carelessly to the ground at Sitio Akiki, in Tublay, Benguet last Thursday that lasted two days. The fire was put under control with the help of residents and three fire companies from Tublay, La Trinidad and Baguio. (Photo by JJ Landingin / MANILA BULLETIN)
Close to 80 hectares of wooded land were razed. The fire, which was believed caused by a lit cigarette butt, started in Sitio Akiki of Barangay Ambassador here last February 19, and quickly spread to adjacent sitios of Nalseb and Lusok.
Dry weather and windy conditions fanned the flames, which were fed by highly combustible dried pine needles.
Members of La Trinidad and Baguio City Fire Departments were quick to respond to help the 11-man fire crew of the Tublay BFP. Fire volunteers and residents assisted but the fire had already razed close to 80 hectare of forest land, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
BPPO Director Col. Elmer Ragay, barangay personnel from Sitio Tinuping, Barangay Eddet Kabayan in Tublay town reported that the forest fire started at around midnight, and was still ongoing as of press time.
Ragay said the Benguet Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), Kabayan police, and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) responded to the fire.
Barangay councilor Julian Sumakey said responding to the fire was difficult because the “trail is too steep, stones and other debris are coming down from the burning mountain.”
“The direction of the fire is going downward,” Sumakey reported.
The February 23 fire was the latest in a series of forest fires to have hit Tublay.
Last February 19, about 75 hectares of forest land caught fire, starting at Sitio Nalseb, Barangay Ambassador in Tublay.
BFP Tublay Senior Fire Officer 4 Clarence Todyog said the February 22 fire was put under control that evening, but fire authorities could still not declare a fire out because of some smoke from the area.
"Under investigation pa kami sa cause of fire and we suspect the negligence of a person in the area, kaya nagkasunog," Todyog added.
Then at around 11 a.m., February 20, another forest fire was reported in Sitio Bawi, Barangay Bayaan, also in Tublay.
Tublay BFP responded to the incident and placed the fire under control before 5 p.m. after razing about eight hectares of forest land.
Todyog estimated that 75 hectares of forest land were damaged by the fire.
Initial reports from Police Capt Eddie Buclig, of Tublay MPS, said a barangay official called the BFP Tublay informing them of an ongoing forest fire in the area. BFP Tublay personnel led by Senior Fire Officer 1 Richard Wakas immediately responded.
Reports said residents of the barangay, with the help of men and equipment from the La Trinidad Fire Station, BFP Baguio, and police personnel, trekked an hour to the site at about 2:30 p.m.
Last February 4, a grass fire was also reported at Sitio Mamuyod of the same barangay, but this was immediately put under control.
Another forest fire was reported at Sitio Tinuping, Barangay Eddet Kabayan, Benguet.
Village councilor Julian Sumakey said the forest fire started at around 12:30 a.m of February 23. “The trail is steep, stones and other debris are falling from the burning mountain and the direction of the fire is going downward,” Sumakey said.
It was declared fire out at 2 a.m. but another forest fire ignited this time in Sitio Bawi Baranggay Bayaan also in Tublay at around 11 a.m. Members of the Tublay BFP responded and placed the fire under control just before 5 p.m. Sunday. Another 8 hectare of land was burned.
Todyog cautioned residents and motorist to refrain from throwing cigarette butts along the highway to prevent forest fires.
Pray for rain
The Diocese of Baguio has appealed for prayers for rain to help suppress the fire that has been raging in the Cordillera mountains since Wednesday last week.
The latest wildfire follows a nine-day forest fire that destroyed 150 hectares of trees in Kabayan, Benguet.
Rev. Fr. Manuel Flores, social action commission director of the Baguio diocese said, no casualties have been reported and there is no immediate need for relief “but we need rain for the wildfire to stop. We are appealing for prayers for rain,” Flores said over Church-run Radio Veritas.
“We are currently assessing the situation and helping inform our parishioners about it. Right now, we are praying for rain. Please pray for rain to help stop the wildfire,” Flores said.
Fr. Flores said one of the reasons for the fire might be the practice of kaingin (slash and burn) which spreads to the cogon grass and results in a wildfire. (With a report from Christina Hermoso)