20-ha of forest land destroyed

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The blaze that began last week at Sitio Igcamalig, located in Barangay Mabini, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, has been quelled, according to Cadiz City Mayor Patrick Escalante.

In a radio interview yesterday morning, Escalante estimated around 20 hectares of forest land was destroyed or damaged.

The fire also reportedly spread to nearby Sitio Nacar in the city’s Barangay Magsaysay.

Escalante said he hopes rains will return in the next couple of days to put out any remaining embers from the forest fire.

The mayor also said the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is already investigating the cause of the blaze to determine if it was intentional.

However, based on initial investigations, CENRO believes the “incendiary fire” was possible started by campers who may have forgotten to put out the fire they used for cooking./DGB, WDJ