Benguet forest fire declared under control on Saturday

Firefighters have controlled a new forest fire in Benguet's Tuba town, Ivan Mayrina reported Saturday on 24 Oras Weekend.

According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the forest fire started on Friday afternoon in Mount Santo Tomas.

While firefighters thought they had the blaze under control by Friday evening, a strong wind rekindled the fire at around 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The fire was unable to spread further on reaching Amliang creek, a natural fire barrier.

Meanwhile, another forest fire in Kabayan had also been placed under control, days after it started and after more than 643 hectares of forest were razed.

Last week, a weeklong forest-fire razed several hectares of forest in Mount Banayanan was also put out by the BFP in Kabayan.

The fire had almost reached houses of the affected barangays before authorities were able to put it out. — Joahna Lei Casilao/DVM, GMA News