20-hectare grass fire breaks out at Batangas Port

A 20-hectare fire broke out at Batangas Port on Thursday, according to a Super Radyo dzBB report.

According to an interview with Batangas Port manager Joselito Sinocruz, the fire began at around 1 p.m. and was initially responded to by the Philippine Ports Authority.

The Bureau of Fire Protection was eventually called as the fire became too big.

“Binabantayan pa, nakikita ko itong mga kasamahan po sa Bureau of Fire… Bagong mag ala-una [nagstart sunog]. Una pong rumesponde yung fire truck ng Philippine Ports Authority, kaso talagang di kaya, ang laki. Mabilis naman po ang ating mga kasamahan sa BFP,” Sinocruz said.

(We are still observing, but I can see our colleagues at the Bureau of Fire… [The fire began] before 1 p.m. The fire truck of the Philippine Ports Authority initially responded, but it wasn’t able to handle the big fire. Our peers at the BFP were quick to respond.)

He said that the burning area was full of dried grass, and was being used to park new cars before dispatch.

“Restricted area po itong nasunog… Puro malaking damo. Talagang natutuyo na nga. Madalas yan ay pinadidiligan ko pa nga sa mga fire truck,” Sinocruz said.

(The area on fire is a restricted area… It’s full of large grass. It really is drying up. I often ask fire trucks to water it.)

The BFP investigator is already at the scene of the fire, while firefighters are ensuring that the fire does not spread out to the residential areas of Batangas.

“Antayin po natin ang magiging resulta ng BFP… Sa ngayon, sa nakikita ko sir, ankabantay ang ating mga kasamahang BFP sa pader papunta sa residential area. Tinutubigan na. Napakalaki ng apoy po, lalo na kanina,” he said.

(Let us wait for the BFP to have results… As of now, I can see that our BFP colleagues are taking care of the wall leading towards the residential area. They are spreading water over it. The fire really is very big, especially earlier.)

“Bukod sa mga bumbero natin, meron din po tayo ditong fire hydrant sa loob ng Batangas Port. Dito po sumasalok ulit ang ating mga kagawad na bumbero,” he added.

(Aside from our firefighters, we also have a fire hydrant inside the Batangas Port. This is where our fellow firefighters also gather more water.) — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/BM, GMA Integrated News