By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the forest fire along Spur 21 in Negros Occidental’s Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB) town earlier this week, Mayor Marxlene Dela Cruz is appealing to the local residents not to burn their garbage.

According to Dela Cruz, as the province is currently experiencing hot weather, residents need to be more vigilant about fires.

The mayor said he had instructed the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to investigate the incident.

BFP-Don Salvador Benedicto acting fire marshal, Senior Fire Officer 2 Laddy Maglasang, said they believe the cause of the fire was due to a local resident who was burning trash. The fire also quickly spread in the area due to strong winds.

No one was reported injured in the incident, although it was estimated that half a hectare of forest land was destroyed in the fire./DGB, WDJ