Bushfire hits 15 hectares of mountain land in Iloilo

CEBU, Philippines - Around 15 hectares of mountain land at San Dionisio town in Iloilo was razed by a bushfire that started at 10 a.m. last Friday.

Thanks to the rain that poured early morning yesterday, “The fire was contained around 3 a.m.”, said Senior Inspector Terence Paul Sta. Ana, chief of the San Dionisio Police.

Still, the wildfire has denuded a great portion of Mount Opao with bushes. “Because of the hot and dry climate, the fire quickly spread,” Sta. Ana told The Freeman.

The wildfire affected Barangays Tiabas, Capinang, Pase and Cudionan but no farmlands or houses were reportedly destroyed.

Three angles on the cause of the bushfire were being investigated by the police, as of yesterday.

Sta. Ana said it could be due to the weather condition, kaingin activities of some residents in the area, and hunters who failed to completely put off the fire they used while cooking.

According to reports, the fire could have been deliberately done also, as this happened almost every year, but Sta. Ana said they received no information on such allegation. (FREEMAN)