A fire fueled by strong winds swiftly spread and damaged 10 hectares of sugarcane fields in Isabela, Negros Occidental, late Monday, January 15.
The fire that hit the sugarcane fields of Hacienda Constancia in Barangay 5 broke out at 5:08 p.m. and was put out at 9:40 p.m., Fire Officer 1 Alfonso J. De Los Sañez II of the Isabela Fire Station said.
The farms are owned by Paul Monfort and Jack Nava, he said.
Residents frantically appealed for more firetrucks from neighboring local government units to help, fearing that the fire would reach their homes.
De Los Sañez said the firefighters put up a defense to prevent the fire from reaching the houses that he estimated at about 50.
No houses were hit by the blaze, he said.
The fire hit barangays 5, 6 and 7, reports from Isabela also said.*