P100,000 loss to grass fire in sugarcane field

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) prevented a fire that erupted in a sugarcane plantation at Hacienda Constancia, Barangay 5, Isabela, Negros Occidental from reaching a residential area last Monday.

Fire Officer 1 Alfonso De Los Sañez, arson investigator of Isabela Municipal Fire Station, said the fire broke out around 5:10 p.m., partially damaging a portion of the 10-hectare sugarcane field.

Sañez said that grasses in the agricultural land were razed by fire. But he could not yet pinpoint the cause of the incident.

Sañez said that the blaze could have been caused by a cigarette thrown at the grass.

“Indi ta mahambal kung intentional or basi may naghaboy lang sigarilyo sa hilamon kag nag ignite,” he added.

He said the fire was raised to second alarm, but with the help of other responding units, they successfully extinguished the flames with no structures affected and no injuries reported.

Fire out was declared at 9:40 p.m., according to Sañez. The fire damaged an estimated P100,000 worth of crops.

Meanwhile, a fire was also reported at the Bacolod City College (BCC) Sum-ag Campus, in Barangay Sum-ag here yesterday, damaging some junk vehicles of the city which are due for disposal.

Senior Fire Officer 4 Jerick Barbas of the BFP-Bacolod, said that an ignition of a material caused by acetylene was the cause of fire, which lasted for about five minutes.