DFEMS responds to four fires as CNMI enters dry season

The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services has responded to four fires in the last week as the CNMI enters the dry season.

Over the weekend, a massive brush fire was reported just across the St. Jude Parish in Koblerville. According DFEMS spokesperson Rob Mojica, the fire, which was reported early last Friday, was the fourth one DFEMS responded to in the area.

“We had four grass fires last week, three on Thursday, then one on Friday,” he said.

The most recent fire, Mojica said, was reported at around 1am in As Gonno/Koblerville and multiple units responded. DFEMS managed to contain the fire at around 3am. In total, possibly a good five or six acres of grassland were burned, Mojica reports.

DFEMS warns the community that, as the CNMI enters dry season, vegetation turns into fuel, so take precautionary measures.

“The days are getting hotter, and vegetation is turning into fuel. We strongly urge the community to be cautious when throwing cigarette butts or glass products out into the jungles. It can take just one single spark to start a fire, destroying everything in its path,” he said.

Grass fire