Fire razes Abra rubber tree farm

BANGUED, Abra – More than 400 rubber trees were totally torched into ashes by a fire that razed a rubber tree plantation at sitio Lucgay, Collago, Lagayan town Thursday morning.

Senior Supt. Roberto Q. Soriano, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera and officer-in-charge of the Abra provincial police office, identified owner of the rubber tree plantation as Romel Diggay Bilong, 36, married, and  resident of barangay Collago, Lagayan, Abra.

Initial investigation showed residents saw fire that emanated from a pasture land identified as “lungsod” 1.5 kilometers away from the rubber tree plantation, but did mind to put it out considering its distance to the plantation area.

However, because of the extreme heat and dried materials in the area, it slowly gutted the dried materials and grew until it reached the rubber tree plantation where around one hectare which was planted with around 400 rubber trees was burned.

According to Soriano, residents in the area joined responding firefighters in putting put out the fire which was declared out at around 8 pm.

Arson investigators estimated the total amount of damage was around P30,000 .

The incident is still being investigatedif arson was involved and who among residents started the fire so  charges will be filed against them in court.