Fires destroy 6.3 hectares of forest, orchards in Negros Occidental

BACOLOD CITY – A fire destroyed at least 6.3 hectares of second-growth forest in the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP) in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, and orchards located in a nearby private land.

The fire in the NNNP occurred in eight patches of parched second-growth forest in sitios Cotcot and Igcamalig in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz that have not been hit by rain in three weeks, said Cadiz Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer Rally Cagayanan.

“The situation is very alarming,” he said, adding that rain was needed in the dry areas of the NNNP.

Aside from the 6.3 hectares, a fire also hit orchards owned by private individuals, Cagayanan said.

“Marang and coconuts are among the produce on the private lands affected,” he said.

They have not determined the amount of private land hit by the fires since the CENRO’s primary concern is the NNNP, he added.

The first fire hit on Aug. 12 and the second on Tuesday, but they still had to determine their causes, he added.

“We have to determine if they were intentional or incendiary fires,” he said.