Bushfire in Rapu-Rapu, Albay affects at least 5,000

MANILA, Philippines – Close to five thousand households were affected by a large bush fire on Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay, on Sunday, August 3. 

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started in Poblacion, Morocboron, Sitio Acal, Mananao, Guadalupe, Buenevista on Sunday morning. Another fire occured at San Ramon, Sitio Minto, Batan Island.  The fire burned hectares of upland crops, according to an August 4 statement of the Philippine Air Force. 

Authorities suspect that slash-and-burn farming, or kaingin, fanned by strong winds could have caused the fire.

The military dispatched two helicopters to respond to the incident. One of the choppers, an AW3 Sokol from the 505th Search and Rescue Group in Albay conducted aerial reconnaissance and damage assessment.

Lt Col Ernest Canaya told reporters that the Philippine Air Force also deployed a Huey II helicopter to fight the fire upon the request of the local governent of Albay. The aircraft carried a bambi bucket, capable of carrying 1,000 liters of water, to douse the fire.

As of this writing, the Air Force has dumped a total of 31 bambi buckets-full of water on the area. 

Authorities add that another chopper has arrived from Davao to assist in the operations.

BFP told to help

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Monday, August 4, ordered the Bureau of Fire Protection to assist the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) in controlling the fire. The BFP is under the Interior department.

“All our fire-fighters and fire trucks in the region must be ready to help the DENR contain the bush fire.” said Roxas in a statement.

Around 14 Forest Fire Protection Officers from the BFP have since been deployed from Albay, said BFP head Chief Superintendent Carlito Romero.

The BFP’s initial assessment team recommended Rapu-Rapu be placed under a state of calamity. The municipality and nearby barangays should also activate its local disaster risk reduction management councils and prepare evacuation sites, said Romero.

Members of the BFP are also working with the Air Force and the Office of the Civil Defense. – Rappler.com