By Dave Achondo,
Desk Editor
The Lanao del Sur Public Information Officer Salma Jayne Tamano has released a statement and additional updates regarding the wildfire that broke loose in the region that started around 10 pm on Thursday affecting two square kilometers of cogon grass in the mountain areas under the Municipality of Butig, Lanao del Sur.
According the Lanao del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Officer (Penro) Engr. Pipalawan Naga the affected location is a cogonal area located at the Municipality of Butig, Lanao del Sur and far from any community for it to cost damage in the area the closest community in the area is Barangay Sandap in Butig which has approximately 2,000 residents.
Cogon is a type of grass seen in open areas in mountains about 2 feet in height at an average.
Meanwhile, the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer IV of Lanao del Sur Saripada “Tong” Lucman Pacasum Jr., who is currently on site as instructed by Governor Mamintal Bombit Alongtong Adiong Jr. earlier this morning released an update on the situation.
Pacasum said that the area cannot be penetrated by vehicle because of its high elevation and the only way to get to the site is a 5-hour trek on foot.
According to Pacasum they speculated that the fire was allegedly cause by animal hunters in the area who made camp along the affected area and started a fire. The fire then rapidly spread and could not be contained resulting in Thursday’s hours long bush fire. Pacasum could not confirm the story though as his team is still verifying the speculation.
He added that the area where there is smoke allegedly has an active volcano and so, there is a possibility also that this may have caused the fire, but this has yet to be verified.
The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) of Butig Ms Aida Mamalakat is currently in Barangay Sandap to meet with the barangay officials and the locals for precautionary measures in case the fire reaches Barangay Sandap.
For their part, The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (Armm-Heart) and Armm Regional Vice Governor Haroun Al-Rashid Alonto Lucman, Jr. has conducted an aerial surveillance of the affected area via chopper to further gather information of the issue.
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