THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Davao Region is investigating 12 unidentified individuals who were spotted when the forest fire erupted at Upper 6, Barangay Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City on August 15.
Senior Fire Office (SFO) 2 Ramil Gillado, officer-in-charge of the Intelligence and Investigation Unit of BFP-Davao Region, said that based on the information they gathered there were allegedly around 10 to 12 unidentified persons seen in the area during the incident.
“Gina-validate pa nato na nga info para ma-establish nato ang mga identity atong mga personahe ug the same time mahibaluan pod nato kong unsa ilang gibuhat sa area (We are validating the information to establish the identities of these personalities and to also determine what they were doing there),” he said.
The fire razed an estimated five hectares of forest and grassland with a damage pegged at about P200,000. There was no reported injured or casualty during the incident.
Gillado said Johnny Muyco, security guard at the Glory Mountain, owned by Pastor Apolo Quiboloy, said that his companion, one Joel Untal, told him that he saw fire originating from the Acosta Farm which later spread towards Glory Mountain which is planted with pine trees.
Firefighters from Calinan Fire Station, 911 Fire Auxiliary Services, Davao Firefighters and Rescue Services and Quiboloy Rescue Team put off the fire using fire brooms and they also made a fire line to prevent fire from spreading.
The fire was declared under control around 4:50 p.m. Firefighters then conducted a clearing operation. Fire out declaration was around 12:30 a.m. of August 16. (JCR)