Another fire strikes forest area in Benguet
BAGUIO CITY — Another fire engulfed a forest area in Itogon, Benguet on Thursday, forcing the Philippine Air Force to dispatch a rescue chopper to help extinguish the blaze.
Senior Insp. Jesus Yango, Itogon fire marshal, said firefighters were still trying to put out the forest fire at Sitio Sta. Fe in Barangay Ampucao as of 3 p.m. on Thursday.
The fire struck an area below Mt. Ulap, a popular trekking site, and spread near St. Louis High School Philex Ampucao.
Yangon said no casualties have been reported from the blaze.
On Wednesday, a fire razed a large forest area at the boundary of Itogon and Tuba in Benguet, killing five people.
The first forest fire destroyed some 60 hectares of forest, which included the Mineral Sharing Production Agreement area of Philex Mining Corp.
“We suspect that the two fire incidents were related. We will look into that once we’re able to control or stop the second fire,” Yango said.
