Over a dozen grassfires break out in Oro

By LITO RULONA
and NITZ ARANCON
Correspondents

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) yesterday urged residents to be vigilant even as over a dozen fires broke out in the city late this week.

Central fire district chief Rommel Villafuerte said firefighters responded to 14 fire incidents here in the past two days.

Villafuerte said 13 were grassfires, another was an “electrical fire,” while another destroyed houses.

Based on the Cagayan de Oro  City  Fire  District records, 13 grassfires broke out between 12:15 pm and 7:15 pm on Thursday alone.

The first broke out at Emmanuel Homes in Barangay Lumbia, followed by another fire in Upper Balulang.

Officials also recorded grassfires at Rabedas Compound  in Tablon; Zone 1, Canito-an; Duaw Park near city hall; sanitary landfill area in Upper Carmen; Arovel Subdivision in Upper Macasandig; Silver Creek Subdivision in Upper Carmen; Buena Oro in Aluba, Macasandig; Teakwood Hills in  Agusan; Vista Grande in Lumbia; Green Bell Subdivision in Bugo; and Green Village in Bugo.

“We have just seen the highest number fires here in just two days,” he said.

Villafuerte blamed the grassfires on the scorching heat and the relatively strong winds in the city.

Villafuerte said fire fighting groups in the city have had their hands full this week because of calls for assistance in barangays Lumbia, Indahag, Carmen, Puerto and Tablon.

Grassfires, he said, are normally due to cigarette butts thrown by smokers. “Mas midala ang sunog tungod pud sa extreme heat nga atong na-experience nga maoy naka-pauga sa mga sagbot,” he added.

The fire bureau also advised residents to avoid burning grass or be careful in disposing their garbage.