Authorities still figuring out how to contain Mount Banahaw forest fire

An aerial assessment over Mount Banahaw in Quezon province is being conducted to determine the extent of the forest fire that has been raging for more than 18 hours and how to effectively contain it, authorities said Thursday.

Ernesto Amores Jr, head of the Sariaya Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said a Philippine Air Force helicopter was used for the aerial survey.

“Mayroong aerial assessment upang ma-assess ng maayos yung extent ng sunog dito sa Bundok Banahaw, upang matasa kung ano ang pwedeng gawin kagaya ng pagsasabog o paglalagay ng kemikal na pwedeng makaapula ng apoy sa naapektuhang lugar,” he said in an interview with GMA News TV's "News To Go."



Vicente Tomasar, director of Office of Civil Defense Region 4-A said two Huey Type II choppers were used to douse the fire.

In a press statement, PAF said it dispatched its Huey II piloted by Major Nelson Cruzado and co-pilot Captain Philippides Jimenez to conduct an aerial reconnaissance and damage assessment operation on the area Thursday morning.

The Huey II aircraft attempted to conduct a bambi-bucket operation to prevent the fire from spreading but it was not feasible at that time due to the adverse wind conditions and unfavorable terrain.

The PAF said the Huey II shall remain in the area until the crisis abates.

He said the fire is in the Talong Ambon area and has affected 15 hectares of the mountain, as of Thursday morning.

In its report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the fire started around 6:30 p.m., but other reports said it started around 2 p.m., even as local authorities said it was at 5 p.m.

It said firefighters had a hard time reaching the area due to steep slopes estimated at 70 degrees.

Lt. Col. Miguel Okol, PAF spokesperson, said they have sent their Bambi Bucket, a firefighting technology, to help contain the fire.

“Yan yung naka-sling sa helicopter na tinatawag na Huey 2, mas malakas sa conventional Huey so bababa sa area na pwedeng pagkuhanan ng tubig that is about a thousand liters per lift, pupunta sa area then ire-release ang tubig.

"Meron tayong capability na ganyan, matagal na ginagamit sa ibang disaster responses,” he said in an interview with Balitanghali.

Based on the information provided to them by the DRRMC, the fire has already affected 30 hectares of the mountain, he said, adding thave coordinated with the Bureau of Fire Protection and the local government for chemicals that can be mixed with the water to effectively douse the fire.

Aside from dousing, authorities are mulling of employing other forest fire management methodologies such as trimming of trees if the fire would threaten nearby communities.

Vicente Tomasar, director of Office of Civil Defense Region 4-A, said they plan to establish a fire lane to prevent further spread of the blaze.

“Iti-trim down yung ibang puno para hindi na makadikit kung sakaling kumalat yung apoy," he said.

"Ito yung pinakamalaking sunog (sa Mt. Banahaw) kasi itong area ay pansamantalang sinarado for more than five years na, ipinagbabawal ang pilgrimage sa area,” he said in a separate interview.

Since 2009, local officials banned pilgrims from climbing or going to areas identified as 'protected'. The ban is extended until 2015. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has identified areas where pilgrims can go.

Regarded widely, especially in southern Tagalog, as a sacred mountain, Mount Banahaw has a history of fires, often accidentally set by pilgrims who leave lit candles at holy spots, called "puwestos."

“Ang lugar na pinangyarihan ng sunog ay sarado sa lahat ng gawain at pinagbabawalan ang lahat na pumasok sa lugar na yun,” said Amores.

Also, Amores said they sent a group of rescuers to check if there are people trapped in the mountain. The rescuers used the trail in Dolores, Quezon which would take them six hours to reach the affected area.

“Tinitignan namin ang posibilidad na makakalikha ng forest fire kasi hindi pa ganun ka tindi yung summer at hindi pa ganun katuyo yung bundok,” he said.

“Tinitignan kung may tao na naging dahilan ng sunog kaya nagpadala ng team kasi we still have to validate. May nagpaalam sa DENR the previous weeks na merong gustong pumunta sa protected area pero hindi pinayagan,” said Amores. — Amita O. Legaspi /LBG, GMA News