Bontoc, Mountain Province – A recent forest fire that ravaged portions of Mount Pokis, Bontoc Ili, has been successfully contained.
SFO1 Clifford Chinalpan of the Bontoc Municipal Fire Station (MFS) revealed that the forest fire started on Saturday, February 3, 2024, near critical communication facilities, including the field office of Radyo Ng Bayan Pilipinas, the towers of Globe and Smart Communications, and a residential house situated in Mount Pokis.
Efforts were immediately initiated by personnel from the Bontoc MFS who were deployed to suppress the fire. The fire was contained on February 5, 2024, at around 11:00 PM. Unfortunately, the fire rekindled on its own and spread further across the mountain on February 06, 2024.
Personnel from Sadanga Fire Station, Radyo Ng Bayan Pilipinas Bontoc, 3rd Maneuver Platoon 2nd Mountain Province-Provincial Mobile Force Company , 1403rd Community Defense Center (CDC) – Army Reserve Command (ARESCOM), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) ,RP1BONTOC Engineering team, Community Environment And Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sabangan, Mountain Province Electric Cooperative (MOPRECO), Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), members of the Bontoc Emergency Response Team (ERT), and community volunteers joined forces to augment the fire suppression efforts.
At around 9:22 A.M. on February 7, 2024, the Bontoc MFS declared that the fire had been successfully extinguished.
Per report from the Bontoc Operations Center, the incident resulted in the burning of approximately 40 hectares of forest and pasture land, with no reported structural damages or loss of livestock.
As of this writing, investigations are underway to determine the cause of fire.
In this regard, the Bontoc Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council chaired by Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., appeals to the public to cooperate in preventing fire incidents and promoting community safety.
The council further emphasizes the importance of vigilance and responsible behavior to mitigate the occurrence of such disasters.** CHRISTY MAE CHE-ES – PANGESFAN
