Manila: Philippine firefighters have dropped crushed ice in a bid to contain the fire that has been raging for a week on the country’s highest peak.
Reports reaching Manila said a Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter tried to contain the fire by dumping loads of ice from helicopter.
The air force has no specialised fire fighting equipment for its UH 1 utility helicopters except for “Bambi” buckets used to scoop water from groundwater sources such as lakes.
Reports quoted Lt. Col. Jose Ritchie Pabilonia as saying the occasion on Sunday was the first time the air force dropped crushed ice into a raging forest fire.
DENR deploys personnel, provides technical support to help contain Mount Apo blaze: https://t.co/sstZaZJMEs pic.twitter.com/z6Z7VFwTNs— Official Gazette PH (@govph) April 4, 2016
“We have yet to confirm the effects of the crushed ice with the volunteers on the ground,” the daily Philippine Star quoted him as saying.
Two air force UH 1 helicopters are being used for the firefighting task, but Philip Dizon, president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines in Mindanao, said the US military will be sending one or more of its aircraft to take part in the efforts.
The conflagration, which reportedly was caused by a Mt Apo camper who failed to extinguish a campfire last week, has so far burnt down an estimated 300 hectares of the forest.
Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak at 2,900 metres above sea level, is a favourite spot for mountain trekkers. It is located between Davao City and North Cotabato.
Environmentalist groups have expressed concern over the detrimental effect of the forest fire on the mountain’s wildlife.
Authorities are on the watch for similar fires in the area.
The long dry spell caused by the El Nino had made forest areas more susceptible to fires.
