Mt. Banahaw fire contained, damage assessment pending

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Flames light up a portion of Mt. Banahaw’s upper slopes in Quezon province on Sunday night, March 29, 2026, as a gras...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Flames light up a portion of Mt. Banahaw’s upper slopes in Quezon province on Sunday night, March 29, 2026, as a grass fire spreads across the summit area. (Kasama ng Kalikasan)

DOLORES, Quezon — A grass fire that broke out near the summit of Mt. Banahaw on March 29, 2026 has been brought under control, but no official report has yet been released on the extent of damage to the affected area. The absence of confirmed data on environmental loss has raised continuing concerns about the overall impact of the incident on the mountain.

The lack of a detailed damage report has prompted calls for clearer information on the condition of the mountain following the fire and its immediate aftermath. Questions have centered on how much of the grassland and surrounding ecosystem may have been affected by the blaze.



“Fire out na raw, pero nasaan ang damage report? Hindi sapat ang deklarasyon na kontrolado na ang sunog kung walang malinaw na datos sa pinsala. Kailangan ng transparency upang maunawaan ng publiko ang tunay na kalagayan ng bundok,” said Jay Lim, program director of Tanggol Kalikasan.

The fire was first reported on Sunday evening in an area identified by residents and hikers as Durungawan or Dungaw Peak near the summit. Witnesses from nearby barangays said the flames spread quickly across grassland and were visible from several communities due to the mountain’s elevation.

Ground teams were dispatched before dawn to inspect the affected area and verify early reports on the spread of the fire. Forest rangers, local responders, and personnel from the Protected Area Management Office were deployed at around 4 a.m. on March 30 to investigate the incident.

Early reports about the incident came from unverified social media posts, creating gaps in confirmation on the ground, according to Magtanggol Barrion, a forest ranger of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Efforts were then undertaken to determine the location, scale, and timeline of the fire based on available information.

“We do not yet have verified information because we only learned about it through social media last night. We are still confirming details from the ground to establish an accurate account of the incident. We ask the public to wait for official updates to avoid misinformation,” Barrion said.

Initial assessments have placed the origin of the fire in the area known as “Unang Dungaw,” which is located near the summit and outside the immediate jurisdiction of Dolores. The location is difficult to access and has limited water supply, making response operations more challenging.

“That remains unverified. We are still validating all possible causes before making any conclusions. Speculation at this stage may lead to confusion among the public. We are continuing to gather information from the site to support the investigation,” he added.

The terrain and vegetation in the upper slopes of Mt. Banahaw create conditions that affect how quickly fires can spread once ignition occurs. Dry grasslands combined with wind exposure can intensify fire behavior and make containment more difficult in elevated areas.

“Hindi ito usapin ng hangganan kundi ng kalikasan na iisa at magkakaugnay. Ang pinsala sa isang bahagi ay epekto sa buong sistema. Dapat malinaw sa publiko kung ano ang tunay na nangyari,” Lim added.

Meanwhile, the Dolores local government urged the public to avoid activities that may trigger fires amid the ongoing dry conditions in upland areas. Residents were also advised to report any signs of fire immediately to ensure a quick and coordinated response.

The municipal government renewed its call for public cooperation in protecting the environment and ensuring community safety as Holy Week approaches. As monitoring continues, the absence of a clear damage assessment remains a key gap in understanding the full impact of the fire.