Forest fire hits Ilocos Norte town

A firefighter tries to extinguish the blaze that hit the mountains in Solsona town, Ilocos Norte province on Thursday, March 16. (Contributed photo)

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte — Authorities have en racing overnight to contain the fire on the mountains straddling Sta. Ana, Catangraran, and Manalpac villages in Solsona town in Ilocos Norte province, authorities said Friday, March 17.

Initial reports from the Solsona disaster risk reduction and management office (SDRRMO) said the cause of the forest fire had yet to be determined.

Fire stations in nearby Dingras and Marcos towns have sent their trucks and personnel to the area to help douse the blaze, with flames spreading to at least 45 hectares of forest land.

No injuries had been reported so far, the report added.

A coordination with the provincial government and Philippine Air Force was also being done on Friday morning for the use of “helibuckets” (helicopter buckets) to help battle the forest fire, according to SDRRMO.

On Feb. 25, a forest fire razed a portion of a mountain range along the scenic Solsona-Apayao road in Ilocos Norte.

Authorities have been raising alarm over the rising incidents of forest and grass fires in Ilocos Norte, with 23 recorded incidents from February to March 6, which tore through the city of Batac and the towns of Vintar, Sarrat, Currimao, Marcos, Banna, Piddig, Paoay, Solsona, and Nueva Era.

The provincial resiliency office said most of the wildfires reported during the period were due to human activities that involved “burning of agricultural farm wastes and throwing cigarette butts in grassy areas.” INQ

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