Forest fire hits Aklan; local officials push local fire bureau

A forest fire hit Malay town in Aklan province Thursday, prompting local officials to push for the establishment of a fire bureau in their locality.

No one was initially reported hurt in the three-hour fire near the Nabaoy Watershed area, GMA Iloilo stringer Jun Aguirre reported on Friday.

Visayas-based Bombo Radyo quoted Bureau of Fire Protection Inspector Joseph Cadag as saying they are still determining what caused the fire.

The Bombo Radyo report added heavy rain at the time helped put out the fire.

Sangguniang Bayan member Frolibar Bautista was quoted by GMA Iloilo as saying Malay town had experienced many fires where firefighters from nearby areas could not arrive on time because of the long distance.

Firefighters from world-famous Boracay Island who tried to respond to fires in Malay had to get to the area via banca, he said.

Bautista said the prospective fire station could be situated in Caticlan. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News