By CESAR JOLITO III

A grass fire damaged about one hectare of sugarcane plantation in Negros Occidental’s Himamaylan City on Tuesday afternoon, March 11, authorities reported.

According to the Himamaylan City Component City Police Station, the fire occurred at 4:30 p.m. at Purok 5, San Jose Valing in Barangay Libacao.

The affected property was being managed by a 43-year-old caretaker identified only as “Darwin,” who oversees the plantation in the area.

Initial investigation showed that around 4:00 p.m., the caretaker was alerted by one of his workers that a fire had started within the sugarcane field.

They immediately attempted to extinguish the flames while waiting for emergency responders.

Personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection in Himamaylan managed to control the blaze. Firefighters declared the fire out at 4:48 p.m. the same day.

A fire arson investigator reported that the grass fire burned approximately one hectare of sugarcane plantation, with the damage estimated at about P150,000./CJ, WDJ