Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez is calling on landowners to trim the grass in their vacant properties to prevent dangerous grassfires from breaking out.
This would also spare firefighters from additional work and undue waste of water, he said on Saturday, March 16.
Benitez has directed the environment and natural resources office to identify vacant lots with grass that are potential sources for fires so the attention of the landowners can be called.
The cut grass should also be disposed of properly to also prevent fires, he said.
Benitez is also reminding barangays to be on the look out for potential sources of fires.
The numerous grass fires that have hit Bacolod City have occurred amid the extreme heat brought on by the El Niño phenomenon, he said.
A close to five-hour grassfire hit three hectares in barangays 2, 6 and 8 on Thursday afternoon, March 14.
The mayor said water should not be wasted because every day firetrucks are delivering water to barangay residents who lack water supply.
Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, Bacolod city fire marshal, has also called on residents to help prevent grassfires because it could be devastating if responding firetrucks run out of water and a fire in a residential area breaks out.
If firetrucks run out of water it would be difficult for firefighters to immediately save houses, property and lives, he said.*