BACOLOD City – Fire razed around 35 hectares of forest and grass land of the Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park in La Castellana, Negros Occidental.
La Castellana’s Mayor Rhummyla Mangilimutan said the fire started in Barangay Biak na Bato on Thursday morning, March 14, and spread to the adjacent Mananawin and Masulog.
Engr. Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, said a “fire out” was declared on Friday, March 15, but monitoring of the area continued throughout the weekend due to concerns that the fire would rekindle.
As of this writing, investigation was ongoing as to what caused the blaze, although Gerangaya said the blaze may have been started by someone who discarded a cigarette butt.
The fire was reported to have quickly spread due to the strong winds, as well as the dry conditions brought by the ongoing drought in the province.
Local authorities are expected to visit the site of the blaze today to determine the extent of damage. (Watchmen Daily Journal)/PN
