• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An estimated 150 hectares of mixed forest and grassland areas within the four-kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island have been damaged by fire for 10 days now.
Authorities, however, clarified that the fire incident, which started April 19 and continued until April 29, is not related to the intermittent ash emission activities of Kanlaon Volcano.
Philip Lechoncito, officer-in-charge and park superintendent of Mount Kanlaon Natural Park, said the fire was first monitored in Sitios Pastohan and Mananawin in Barangay Masulog, La Castellana in Negros Occidental as well as in Barangay Masulog, Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
It started on April 19 and was contained on April 27, damaging about 150 hectares of grass and shrubs, but with minimal damage on the native old trees.
Another fire broke out on April 28 in the area of Barangay Masulog in Canlaon City, which damaged at least one hectare of mixed forested and cogonal area.
The blaze also affected several native trees within the Kanlaon Volcano protected zone.
While they have yet to establish the source of fire on April 19, Lechoncito said the latest fire incident originated from the activities of persons engaged in the extraction of honey from beehives. | GB
