Outdoor and adventure activities at Mt. Asog in Iriga City, Camarines Sur have been suspended after a fire hit a portion of the mountain on Sunday, April 22, 2024. 

The forest fire lasted for several hours. 

An Incident Management Team composed of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and barangay officials was mobilized to assess the situation.

Several mountaineers also went to the site to assess the extent of damage caused by the fire.

“Mga kahoy po [natupok], su malobago pong pinagtanom duman nasulo,” Ronie Alferez, a barangay watchman from Santiago, Iriga City, said.

Atty. Maharlika Ramon Oaferina II, City Administrator of Iriga City, said that assessments are needed to plan necessary actions, including the establishment of a fire lane.

“Ang primero is mag-conduct ki assessment para makapagplano kung ano ang gigibuhon. Second, makapag- establish nin fire lane, that is why, may barangay na nagkaigwa nin volunteers kasi [sinda] maglalaag nin fire lanes kasi para itong fire ma-control ta sa saro sanang area, [tapos] dae na magduman sa portion na posibleng igwang mga residential houses,” Oaferina said.

Meanwhile, in Irosin, Sorsogon, about 20 hectares of forest were affected by a fire near the boundary of Barangay Gulang-Gulang and Tinampo Irosin on Friday, April 19.

Investigation by the BFP-Irosin are ongoing, as of this writing, to determine the cause of the fire.

The BFP reminds the public to avoid actions that could potentially start fires.

“Ngayong panahon po ngayon, lalo na nararanasan po natin ang sobrang init, [mag] dobleng ingat po tayo, lalo na kapag magluluto sa ating bahay. Pag nasa labas naman po [ay] iwasan po natin yung pagtapon ng mga upos ng sigarilyo,” FO2 Sharlyn Ansus of Irosin BFP, said.