Arson, discarded cigarette? Causes of Pangasinan grass fires, Benguet forest fire sought

Authorities believe that a cigarette that was discarded while it was still lit caused a fire that razed more than two hectares of forest in Benguet.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras" on Wednesday, the fire at the foot of Mount Santo Tomas in Tuba, Benguet raged for almost three hours before it was finally put out.

"Please avoid ang sunog, 'yung cigarettes huwag kayong magtatapon-tapon ng hindi napatay na sigarilyo," said a visibly upset James Batan, a forest ranger in the area. 

Nobody was hurt in the fire.

In Pangasinan, meanwhile, seven grass fires have sprung up in Calasiao, Pangasinan since New Year's Day.

According to the report, the Bureau of Fire Protection is looking at arson as the cause, as grass fires are unusual during the Amihan season.

"Napakalayo pa ang summer, so hindi ko ito ma-pinpoint kung sino 'yong mga nanununog pero rest assured, ito ay sinunog talaga o sinadya," Fire Senior Inspector Luther Carl Vallejos said.

The BFP encouraged residents to come forward if they have information about who may have set the fires.

The bureau will also visit every barangay in Calasiao for a wide information dissemination drive. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News