FOREST FIRE. Authorities respond to help douse the blaze at a mountain range in Solsona, Ilocos Norte on Feb. 24, 2024. The flames spread to about 10 hectares. (Photo courtesy of BFP Ilocos Norte)
LAOAG CITY – Ilocos Norte province has stepped up measures to prevent the recurrence of forest fires this dry season.
Marcell Tabije, provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, in a media interview Wednesday, said authorities from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Marines have started patrolling areas with previous incidents of forest fires such as in the mountainous areas of Solsona, Piddig, Carasi as well as in the cities of Batac and Laoag.
“This is our initial step to prevent more cases of forest fires in the province which are prevalent during the dry season,” he said.
Tabihe said Philippine Air Force (PAF) air assets were also tapped for “helibuckets” (helicopter buckets) to help battle the forest fire.
At around 6:55 p.m. on Feb. 24, a forest fire hit a portion of a mountain range along the Solsona-Apayao road in Ilocos Norte province.
Authorities raised the alarm to level 3, prompting firefighters from nearby towns to help put out the fire.
The flames spread to around 10 hectares of the mountainous part near the Solsona view deck frequently visited by motorists and tourists during weekends.
From February to March 2023, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded 23 forest and grass fires that tore through the city of Batac and the towns of Vintar, Sarrat, Currimao, Marcos, Banna, Piddig, Paoay, Solsona and Nueva Era.
According to BFP, most of the wildfires were due to human activities that involved burning of agricultural farm wastes and throwing cigarette butts in grassy areas.
Meanwhile, local government units and villages officials are urged to help monitor their respective areas and implement pro-active measures to avoid similar incidents. (PNA)
