Forest fires rage for 5 days in Samar, E. Samar towns

CATBALOGAN CITY, SAMAR, Philippines — Still reeling from the impact of typhoon Yolanda, communities in typhoon devastated areas in Eastern Samar have been threatened by spot wildfires, scorching amid dried forest debris from Marabut town of Western Samar to Gen. McArthur of Eastern Samar province.

The wildfire, which started about five days ago, was first spotted in the forests of  Balangiga town (Eastern Samar) and subsequently went uncontrollable in the ensuing days, and then spread its way to neighboring towns of  Salcedo, Giporlos and some part of Gen. McArthur as of yesterday afternoon.

A separate burning forest likewise was reported in Marabut town which is already part of Western Samar.

Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Salcedo Campus administrator, Dr. Marina Apilado, in an SOS message to the Eastern Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, headed by Levi Nicart, reported that the forest fire was already nearing the school’s gymnasium and its other campus facilities, prompting the suspension of classes yesterday.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, a firetruck from Lawaan town is now stationed at the ESSU, according to reports from authorities.

Nicart clarified that the cause of  the wildfire was yet to be determined, but it did not emanate from the burning forest in Marabut town of  Western Samar.

On the other hand, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) director Rey Gozon told in a press briefing that choppers from the Philippine Air Force were already dispatched to the area yesterday morning to help in containing the spread of the wildfire.

Army personnel, the police and members of the Bureau of  Fire Protection from Borongan City were also stationed in various points of Salcedo and Balangiga towns to prevent the fire from spreading to the residential areas, the nearest point of which as reported yesterday was only about 1.5  kilometers from the houses in Brgy. Poblacion 3 of  Balangiga town.

Crescentia Quitorio of the East Samar Capitol Media Bureau, said: “The cause of the wildfire, according to the Municipal DRRMOs of affected towns, was not strictly due to kaingin ... but likewise due to ‘tap-ong’ (a local term), which is another way of upland farming as they prepare for planting”.

“Please advise our farmers to be careful, especially in areas badly hit by Yolanda because these areas are very dry and obviously with very low kindling temperature and likely to burn easily,” she added.

In a related report, from Lady Camelot of  the media center in Tacloban City sent to The Freeman, lack of personnel and the remote site of the wildfire have hindered immediate action of  DENR personnel.

The Balangiga Police informed the media that, at around 9 a.m. yesterday, the wildfire at the town’s reforestation site had already burnt about 15 hectares of the area, she added. (FREEMAN)