BACOLOD City – The local government of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental sought help from the Environment department in investigating the forest fire at the Northern Negros Natural Park.
Mayor Patrick Escalante said they needed the expertise of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in determining the cause.
The fire struck 6.6 hectares of natural forest in sitios Codcod and Igcamaligin in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City on Aug. 12.
It also affected an estimated 10 hectares of natural forest in Sitio Nacar in the neighboring village of Magsaysay, said Escalante.
Several hectares covered by the reforestation project of the local government of Cadiz there were hit, too, the mayor said.
While the fire was already “under control” the local government hopes a heavy rain would fall to completely put the blaze out, said Escalante.
Someone may have intentionally torched a portion of the forest or some campers may have forgotten to put out a bonfire, the mayor said.
An investigation would determine the cause and prove or disprove these suspicions, he added.
The cost of damage has yet to be determined as of this writing as well./PN
