Smoke from a close to five-hour grassfire at the reclamation area hit downtown Bacolod City Thursday afternoon, March 14.
The grassfire at the reclamation area started at 12:16 p.m. and was put out at 4:50 p.m., the Bacolod Fire Station reported.
The fire hit about three hectares of grassland in barangays 2, 6 and 8, Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, Bacolod City fire marshal, said.
Eight fire trucks were positioned around the areas hit by the fire to prevent it from spreading to buildings and houses.
The smoke went towards the south hitting SM City, S&R, the Manokan Country up to the plaza and some parts of the downtown area, Jardeleza said.
Jardeleza said the Bureau of Fire Protection will conduct controlled burning by blocks to clear the area of combustible wilted grass.
They have not determined the cause of the grassfire that could have been ignited by carelessness of some people who could have lighted makeshift stove or thrown a cigarette in the area, he said.
Jardeleza called on residents to help prevent grassfires because it could be devastating if responding firetrucks run out of water when a fire hits a residential area.
If firetrucks run out of water it would be difficult for firefighters to immediately save houses, property and lives, he said.
It is ironic that just when they put up a tarpaulin with 12 tips on how to prevent a fire in Barangay 8 on Thursday morning, the grassland in front of it went up in flames, Jardeleza said.*