Fires hit Kanlaon grasslands

BACOLOD CITY,Philippines — Up to 150 hectares of mixed forest and grasslands within the four-kilometer-radius permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island were destroyed in separate fire incidents that continued for several days.

Authorities clarified that the incidents, which started on April 19, were not connected to the intermittent ash emissions of Kanlaon.

Officials of the Mount Kanlaon Natural Park said the fire in Barangay Masulog located at the boundary of La Castellana, Negros Occidental and Canlaon City, Negros Oriental was contained on April 27.

Another fire broke out on Tuesday at the Canlaon side of the same village.

The blaze, which affected several native trees within the Kanlaon Volcano protected zone, has yet to be contained as of yesterday.