DENR issues fire advisory for forest areas nationwide

March 17, 2018

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued a fire safety advisory for natural parks and forest areas across the country in time for the observance of March as Fire Prevention Month.

In a statement Saturday, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu  ordered all regional offices of the DENR and the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) to make sure that their fire-fighting assets are are ready in the event of a forest fire.

“This is to prevent and minimize fire incidents given the increased risk of forest fires during the summer months,” he said.

Cimatu also ordered forestry field officials to beef up patrols in forest areas and ensure the cooperation of upland communities on forest fire prevention.

“Community support is the backbone of our forest fire prevention efforts. The support of people living in upland communities, along with increased surveillance by our patrol groups, will enable faster detection and response, which is critical in minimizing fire damage,” Cimatu said.

The FMB has provided each regional office of the DENR with several sets of 12-piece firefighting tools: fire swatter, fire shovel, scrape shovel, collapsible fire pump, safety helmet, working glove, brush mask, google, rake hoes, pick-shovels, axe and fuel-powered grass cutter.

The DENR also makes use of digital technology to fight forest fire through the LAWIN Forest and Biodiversity Protection System, or simply LAWIN system.

Under this system, fire-prone forest areas are mapped and profiled according to their location, resources available and communities that can be tapped.

According to FMB Director Nonito Tamayo, extinguishing a forest fire is “almost impossible” and the only way to stop it is to prevent it from spreading by creating fire lines.

He said forest fire suppression “may last for days, weeks or even months as long as there are materials eft to burn.”

Thus, he said, it is important to educate communities about forest fire prevention so as to reduce the risks. DMS