Fire in Mt. Pulag’s Akiki trail declared out

BAGUIO CITY – The fire that razed some parts of the Akiki trail, one of the major routes to Mt. Pulag, was put out on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

It took seven days for firefighters to completely extinguish the fire that began on Jan. 31, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection Cordillera (BFP CAR).

The blaze originated from Sitio Balangabang in Duacan village in Kabayan town, Benguet and encroached parts of Poblacion village and Eddet village, reaching the Akiki trail.

Responders reached the area at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 31 and declared the blaze under control at 1:45 p.m.

But strong winds ignited some embers, which kept the fire burning in some portions of the area, Emerita Albas, the park manager of Mt. Pulag National Park, told the Inquirer.

Fire out was declared only on Wednesday at 4:23 p.m. It affected areas near a community but no injuries were reported, said Fire Officer John Paul Codnita of the BFP.

Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

The park management of Mt. Pulag National Park closed the trail on Saturday for rehabilitation to ensure the safety of trekkers, Albas said.

In January last year, the trail was closed for about three months of rehabilitation after a fire gutted nearly 6 hectares of grassland.

The fire then was caused by a damaged butane stove that a group of trekkers hurled into the grasslands at the Akiki-Tawangan area, known as the Saddle Camp. Valerie Damian, Inquirer Northern Luzon