Blackout hits Isabela over grass fire

SANTIAGO CITY, Isabela, Philippines — A grass fire along the Gamu-Roxas 69-kiloVolt line in Barangay Barculan, Gamu resulted in a four-hour power interruption in parts of Isabela on Thursday.

Lilibeth Gaydowen, National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP)- Northern Luzon spokesperson, said the power outage hit the towns of Roxas, Mallig, San Manuel, Aurora, Quirino and parts of Burgos and Gamu.

“The fire does not have to burn the wood poles for it to trip. Smoke alone can trigger these lines to trip and cause power interruption,” Gaydowen said.

The NGCP reiterated its appeal to the public to protect transmission facilities from fire to avoid power interruptions and accidents.