MORE than 100 hectares of forest, grass, and mountain in Barangay Malico, San Nicolas town Tuesday morning, February 13 were razed all because of a lighted cigarette butt thrown by riding tourist.

Shallom Balolong of the San Nicolas Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said they received report of the forest fire near the KM218 marker at 9 a.m.

Residents reportedly saw the fire spread at 8:30 a.m. Early efforts to contain the blaze failed and the fire could only be declared out by 8:30 p.m. and the DENR rangers in the area said by that time, more than 100 hectares were already razed to the ground

Balolong said authorities were able to contain the spread of the fire sideways.

Prior to the incident, residents saw a group of motorcycle riders stopped  at the view deck to take pictures of the scenery.

One resident said he saw one of tourists threw a cigarette butt, which set the nearby grass on fire.

Balolong urged all tourists not to throw any trash during their visits. (Ahikam Pasion)

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