Philippines: Forest fires reported on central island, northern province
El Niño, wild boar and honey collection blamed for forest fires
Manila: Increased forest and grass fires have been reported in central and northern Philippines, with officials urging citizens and visitors to take extra care as the summer heat intensifies.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Negros Oriental, stationed in Dumaguete City, on Monday (April 8) reiterated its plea to the public to aid in preventing wildfires amidst the extreme heat linked to El Niño, as they recorded 17 grass fires just last week.
Meanwhile, from January to February 2024, BFP also recorded nine forest and grass fires in northern Philippines – which the bureau blamed on wild boar hunters and wild honey collectors.
Supt. Noel Nelson Ababon, the provincial fire marshal in Negros Oriental, reported approximately 10 grass fires and several structural fires in the capital and other areas of the province last week.
He assured the public that they are striving to promptly respond to all fire emergencies, especially during concurrent incidents, with the assistance of fire volunteers.
Challenge
Ababon told the Philippine News Agency that they face the challenge of limited resources during simultaneous fire outbreaks but expressed gratitude for the support of local government units providing fire volunteers and water tankers.
He emphasised the reinforcement of campaigns against open burning due to extreme heat and extensive dissemination of information.
According to BFP-Negros Oriental records from April 1-8, the province encountered a total of 27 fire incidents, including 17 grass fires in various locations such as Mabinay, Bais, Zamboanguita, Basay, Dauin, Bacong, and Bindoy.
Other incidents involved agricultural, residential, educational/school, and motor vehicle fires.
Ababon attributed the exacerbation of fires to the extremely hot weather conditions. The exact cause of the grass fires is yet to be determined but is often associated with reckless activities such as discarding cigarette butts in dry areas.
In another region, forest fires in Ilocos Norte were attributed to activities like wild boar hunting and honey collection, causing significant damage to forestland. The BFP urged the public to act responsibly in fire prevention, emphasising that it's a collective effort.
Open flames from cooking were highlighted as another leading cause of fire incidents. Ilocos Norte, which has recorded 26 forest fires until April 3, has formed a task force composed of representatives from the BFP, police and the Marines to curb the threat to the province's forestlands.
In 2023, over 20 forest fire incidents were recorded, causing millions of damage to Ilocos Norte’s National Greening Programmes in various parts of the province.
As the fire prevention month commenced, BFP called for public support and participation in their campaign. They also urged local government units to collaborate in educating constituents about fire prevention and suppression.