TWO grass fires struck over eight hectares of land in the towns of Sibonga and San Fernando in southern Cebu on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, destroying hundreds of crops.
The first incident occurred in Lower Magcagong, a mountainous area in Sibonga, at 4 p.m. Firefighters, with the assistance of local residents, managed to extinguish the fire by 7 p.m.
Staff Sgt. Reginar Templanza of Sibonga Police Station told SunStar Cebu that the fire razed more than five hectares of farm land owned by his relatives.
According to Templanza, the three-hour grass fire destroyed 100 coconut trees, 50 bananas, bamboo and other crops on the farm.
While there is no official result from the investigation regarding the cause of the fire, Templanza suspects that someone started a fire on his relatives’ farm.
The fire, he said, spread because of the dry conditions in the farm due to the El Niño phenomenon.
The Sibonga Fire Station has not disclosed the value of the grass fire damage as of this writing.
Past 8 p.m., another grass fire broke out in Barangay San Isidro, San Fernando, which also lasted for three hours.
A report from the San Fernando Police Station said a small portion of a cemetery was affected.
Initial investigation by the municipal fire station says the grass fire originated in the upper part of San Isidro. It spread rapidly due to hilly terrain and high winds, according to Senior Insp. Constancia June Agustin, fire chief.
Agustin said the sparks from the fire would ignite dry grass due to the windy conditions.
About three hectares of land were affected by the grass fire. Firefighters from neighboring towns and cities arrived to assist San Fernando’s personnel.
Grass fires in Cebu have frequently occurred amid the dry season, which is exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.
Recent incidents include one in the mountains of Oslob, affecting several barangays last April 6. Seventy hectares of land were razed by the fire.
On the same day, another grass fire was reported in Purok Tambis, Barangay Magcagon, Sibonga town, affecting a farm.
Grass fires were also reported in South Hills, Barangay Tisa, Cebu City, on April 7, and at Mt. Kan-irag’s campsite in Barangay Sirao, Cebu City, and Ajoya Subdivision in Lapu-Lapu City on April 9.
On April 10, a grass fire razed nearly three hectares of land in Sitio Siningbahan, Barangay Colawin, Argao. / DVG, KAL