Volunteers quick to act vs fire on Mt. Isarog

CHILDREN wave at a helicopter of the Philippine Air Force that is bound for fire-fighting duty in Bacacay town, Albay province, to help put out bush and forest fires there. MARK ALVIC ESPLANA/INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON

NAGA CITY—A forest fire that broke out on Saturday on Mt. Isarog consumed at least 150 hectares of second-growth forest before it was put out on Sunday by villagers and provincial officials.

Edencia Orlina, chief of the affected village of Harubay in Calabanga town, said on the phone on Sunday that efforts to put out the fire by employees from the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office of Camarines Sur and volunteers from their village had paid off.

Orlina said the fire of still undetermined origin burned hundreds of young trees of hardwood species on Mt. Isarog, affecting at least 100 ha in the village of Kaway-nan in Tinambac town and another 50 ha in the village of Harubay.

She said the fire was quickly put out following the speedy response of the provincial government. Officials quickly sent more than 50 volunteers to the area to help fight the fire.

Orlina said the volunteers quickly studied the direction of the wind and fire and preempted its spread by just clearing areas that are vulnerable.

She said a rest house in her village had been destroyed by the fire, but no other major damage was reported.