Ongoing fires have hit approximately 150 hectares of grassland, including trees, within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano.
Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park Superintendent Philip Lechoncito said on Wednesday, April 29, that the fires have not been caused by volcanic activity.
The fires are believed to have been triggered by a combination of extreme heat and actions of wild honey gatherers, he said.
Lechoncito said honey gatherers often start fires to smoke bees out of their hives. These fires are sometimes not properly extinguished, leading them to spread across the protected area.
The superintendent noted that the ongoing fires started on April 19 in Sitios Trangkalan and Mananawin in Brgy. Masulog, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, and have since spread across 100 hectares.
The fires also hit an additional 50 hectares of grassland with sporadically distributed trees, also located in Brgy. Masulog.
Meanwhile, the latest fire broke out in Upper Alabasi in Brgy. Masulog on the Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, side. That fire, which hit one hectare on Tuesday, April 28, was still ongoing as of Wednesday, Lechoncito said.*
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