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BFP Ilocos Norte takes inter-agency approach vs wildfires

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Ilocos Norte is taking an inter-agency approach into the rising cases of forest fires in the province.


During the PIA Ilocandia Forum of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Ilocos Norte, Fire Supt. Roxanne Parado, provincial fire marshal, announced the province has already recorded nine forest fires from January to February 2024 alone.


She cited that in 2023, the BFP recorded 21 forest fires, two incidents in 2022, and only one incident each from 2019 to 2021.


The BFP has also tapped the assistance of the 4th Marine Brigade, Philippine Army, Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INNPO), and local disaster risk management and reduction units of the province to help in their efforts to decrease wildfire incidents in the province.


“The INPPO is now regularly patrolling forested areas to ensure fire safety,” Parado said.

The 4th Marine Brigade joins the BFP in responding to a forest fire at Solsona-Apayao road on Feb. 23. (Photo courtesy: BFP Ilocos Norte)

Based on previous records, the fire marshal said that wildfires in Ilocos Norte are mostly “accidental fires” caused by dry weather, cigarette buds, open fire from campers or hikers, wildlife hunters, and burning of agriculture waste.


“Investigation of forest fire incidents are challenging for us because by the time we get there to respond, any possible suspects have already fled so it is hard for us to determine what and who caused the fire,” she said.


Moreover, Parado is appealing to hunters of wild boar and gatherers of wild honey in the province to ensure they do not leave any open fires after their activities to prevent fire incidents.

“We suspect that some causes of our previous forest fires incidents are from lingering open fires from roasting wild boars and smoking of beehives,” Parado explained.


The fire marshal is hopeful that they can lessen forest fire incidents since all of the cities and municipalities in the province are all activated and have their own functioning fire trucks.


The PIA Ilocandia Forum is an online press conference conducted monthly by the PIA Ilocos Norte Information Center. (JCR/MJTAB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)

Fire Supt. Roxanne Parado, provincial fire marshal of the BFP Ilocos Norte serves as guest during the PIA Ilocandia Forum on February 29 to discuss their inter-agency approach to lessen occurrence of forest fires. (EJFG)

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Emma Joyce Guillermo

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