Philippines moves to contain fire on its highest peak

The Philippine government has deployed technical personnel to assist in the containment of forest fire in Mt. Apo, the country's highest peak, which has been razed by fire since Saturday, a senior government official said Wednesday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said that at least 40 technical personnel have been mobilized to help the concerned local government units, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) that were tasked with suppressing the wildfire.

"Each of the seven composite teams now up in Mt. Apo has DENR personnel providing technical assistance, particularly in the use of geographical position system or GPS and control maps, including the establishment of fire lines to prevent the fire from further spreading," Paje said.

A fire line is a gap in vegetation or other combustible materials that will act as barrier to slow down or stop the fire from spreading.

Paje said his office will also discuss with concerned local government officials on the plan to temporarily close Mt. Apo in southern Philippines to campers to prevent a repeat of the fire incident.

He noted that the risk of fire had increased as the long dry spell and high temperatures left large amounts of flammable debris in forest areas.

Mt. Apo, with an elevation of 2,954 meters, which is located in Davao and Cotabato, is a national park. Endit