Ilocos Norte Enhances Efforts to Avert Forest Fires During Dry Season

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – In response to the annual threat of forest fires during the dry season, Ilocos Norte province has intensified its preventative measures. Marcell Tabije, the provincial disaster risk reduction and management officer, announced in a media interview on Wednesday that patrols have been initiated in areas previously affected by forest fires, including the mountainous regions of Solsona, Piddig, Carasi, and the cities of Batac and Laoag.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Marines are spearheading these patrols as a preliminary step to mitigate the risk of forest fires, which tend to escalate during the dry months. Additionally, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has been enlisted to provide air support with “helibuckets” (helicopter buckets) for combating any outbreak of fire.

A recent forest fire on February 24, which ignited along the Solsona-Apayao road in a mountain range within the province, underscored the urgency of these measures. The incident, which escalated to a level 3 alarm, resulted in firefighters from surrounding municipalities converging to extinguish the flames that had spread across approximately 10 hectares near the Solsona view deck—a popular spot among motorists and tourists.

From February to March 2023, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded 23 instances of forest and grass fires across various locations in Ilocos Norte, including Batac city and the towns of Vintar, Sarrat, Currimao, Marcos, Banna, Piddig, Paoay, Solsona, and Nueva Era. The BFP attributes most of these wildfires to human activities, such as the burning of agricultural waste and the careless disposal of cigarette butts in grassy areas.

In light of these developments, local government units and village officials have been called upon to vigilantly monitor their jurisdictions and implement proactive measures to prevent the occurrence of similar incidents in the future.