By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around one-hectare of forest land was destroyed or damaged following a fire Tuesday afternoon in the mountainous area of Sitio Igcamalig, located in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

In a radio interview, Cadiz City Mayor Patrick Escalante said they still don’t know what caused the fire, although they are looking at the possibility of a local resident leaving a fire unattended, which eventually spread.

A discarded cigarette butt is also a possible cause.

Escalante said they have yet to assess damages and may call for an investigation into the cause of the fire./DGB, WDJ