Fire guts 287 hectares in Ilocos mountain area
MANILA, Philippines — Up to 287 hectares of land were destroyed in a grass fire that broke out in a mountainous area in Carasi, Ilocos Norte yesterday.
In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Chris Noel Bendijo, spokesman for the Office of Civil Defense, said the fire was declared under control at noon.
Bendijo said the Philippine Air Force deployed three helicopters that conducted “heli-bucket” operations to control the fire.
“Right now, our efforts are concentrated on saturating the ground. Our heli-bucket operations will continue to ensure that the land is moist and saturated, to prevent embers from sparking another fire,” Bendijo said.
Although the nearest residential property is about three to four kilometers away, Bendijo said they wanted to immediately stop the fire from spreading.
He said the area is covered by dry leaves and grass, which can cause the fire to spread quickly.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
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