Photo by Leah Agonoy/INQUIRER MINDANAO
PAGADIAN CITY, Philippines — Closed in 2015, the old dumpsite in Barangay Balangasan, Pagadian City was raged by fire Saturday noon.
City Environment and Natural Resources office chief Analyn Babayson said the employees on duty in the area reported that a the fire might have started with a spark from a disposable lighter or similar items dumped in the area years ago.
The fire started at the dumped biodegradable materials all dried up under the sun which immediately escalated as wind gusts in the area, Babayson told the Inquirer.
The fire reached areas with piles of old tires causing bigger blaze.
Babayson assured that there were no houses in the area since the city government already relocated them to Barangay Buenavista after the site’s closure and develop it as an Eco Center were wastes were segregated and processed as organic fertilizers.
Bureau of Fire Protection in Pagadian City rushed to the area after receiving the report to tame the blaze and later declared fire under control.
Photo by Leah Agonoy/INQUIRER MINDANAO