Mt. Apo fire may be out by today – DENR

By Ellalyn B. De Vera and Alexander D. Lopez The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is hoping to put out the fire that has already engulfed about 350 hectares of forests and grasslands at Mt. Apo by today, Thursday. “If weather permits, fire could be out today (March 30) or tomorrow (March 31),” DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said in an interview, citing a report from the Philippine Air Force (PAF). A Super Huey chopper from the PAF was deployed in the area Tuesday morning to conduct water bucket operations to put out the fire. DROP IN THE BUCKET – A Philippine Air Force helicopter proceeds to deliver a helibucket of water to the site of a forest fire that has been ablaze on the slopes of Mount Apo, a seemingly insurmountable task considering the conflagration has razed more than 300 hectares of forest land. The chopper painstakingly picked [...]