BAKUN, BENGUET — What began as a scenic weekend trek turned into a desperate fight for survival as a fast-moving grass fire engulfed the slopes of Mt. Kabunian on Saturday, April 4, 2026. Emergency responders successfully evacuated 18 hikers who found themselves trapped by a wall of flames near the mountain's rocky summits.

The fire broke out late in the morning, fueled by dry vegetation and the high-altitude winds typical of the Cordillera region during the peak of the dry season. Within an hour, the blaze had spread across several hectares, cutting off the primary trail used by trekking groups.

Personnel from the Bakun Municipal Police, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and local civilian volunteers launched an immediate extraction operation, successfully accounting for all 18 hikers and escorting them back to the jump-off point in Poblacion. While the group was visibly shaken, no major injuries were reported, though several individuals required treatment for exhaustion and minor smoke inhalation.

Mt. Kabunian, revered by the local community as a sacred site and famous for its "hanging coffins" and breathtaking stone walls, has seen an influx of tourists in recent months. Local authorities are now investigating the cause of the blaze, looking into whether it was triggered by a discarded cigarette, an unattended campfire, or natural causes intensified by the current heatwave.

"The safety of our visitors is paramount, but this serves as a stern reminder of how fragile our mountain ecosystems are during the summer," said a local disaster risk reduction officer. "We were lucky today; the wind could have easily turned this rescue into a tragedy."

The incident on Mt. Kabunian is part of a worrying trend across Benguet. With temperatures soaring, the province has seen a spike in forest and grass fires over the past two weeks.

Following the rescue, the municipal government of Bakun has announced a temporary suspension of all hiking activities on Mt. Kabunian until a full assessment of the trail safety and environmental damage is completed. Local guides and porters are currently assisting the BFP in creating firebreaks to ensure the flames do not reach nearby residential settlements or historical burial sites.