The fires that burned grass and parts of the forest within the 4-kilometer permanent danger zone of Kanlaon Volcano has been extinguished by heavy rains, Philip Lechoncito, Park Superintendent of Mt Kanlaon Natural Park, said Friday, May 1.
Up to 200 hectares of grassland and parts of the forest were hit by the fires in Barangay Masulog, La Castellana.
The fires were believed to have been triggered by extreme heat and by honey gatherers who started fires to smoke out bees from their hives, Lechoncito said.
Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said the Kanlaon Green Brigade was closely monitoring the area to protect nearby communities from fires.*
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