The Bureau of Fire Protection is on record saying the fire codes does not apply to residential areas which is why so many of them go up in flames during a fire. Being made of light materials all it takes is one spark to cause massive devastation.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/2/29/stay-alert-philippine-red-cross-calls-for-vigilance-as-fire-prevention-month-begins |
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday, Feb. 29, urged the public to be vigilant in line with the beginning of the month-long observance of Fire Prevention Month this March.
In a statement, PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon also urged every household to practice the 4Ps (Predict, Plan, Prepare, Practice) as fire safety begins at home.
“Fire risk, especially in highly urbanized areas, is relatively high during summer. In fact, we see an increase in fire incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year," Gordon said.
"This is why everyone must take greater vigilance and observe fire safety precautions,” he added.
As part of the awareness campaign, the PRC has released a set of fire safety tips to strengthen the public’s fire safety awareness, reducing the risk of fire in communities, especially in fire-prone residential areas.
"PRC is in full support of the campaign of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to raise fire prevention awareness throughout the month of March, which is said to have the most number of fire incidents due to the peaking of temperatures," PRC said.
While the Philippine Red Cross warns against leaving fires unattended and smoking in bed they do not warn against building your house out of light and flammable materials. Residential areas being constructed wholly out of bric-a-brac and which are tightly jammed together is a major cause for such devastating fires which quickly spread. Fire incidents are up by 25% so far this year.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1219936 |
The country has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of fire incidents in the first two months of the year, most of which occurred in residential areas.
Speaking at a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday, Bureau of Fire of Protection (BFP) spokesperson Fire Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said a total of 3,044 fire incidents were reported from Jan. 1 to March 1 this year, from 2,424 incidents logged in the same period last year.
Smoking is the leading cause of fire incidents, followed by unattended open flames from cooking and electric ignitions, she added.
“We are focusing on residential areas because majority of these fires are residential. This is why one of our key programs, although it was launched in 2019, ‘Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan,’ includes the dissemination of EDITH – Emergency Drill In The Home,” Atienza said.
She added that the BFP modernization, which is set to commence this year, is seen to improve fire prevention and response efforts.
“What we are strengthening, of course, are our existing resources and we are excited about BFP modernization. In the next 10 years from now, our lack of fire trucks and fire stations, as well as personnel, will be augmented,” Atienza said.
As of January, Atienza said, 123 towns have no firetrucks and fire stations and only have fire prevention officers.
“While we are waiting for this completion, of course, we acknowledge the presence of our fire volunteers who are very supportive and active when it comes to public service. We are also continuing to monitor our area of responsibility in each town,” she added.
In Bacolod City fire incidents are up by more than 50% in the first two months of the year.
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| https://www.panaynews.net/bacolod-fire-incidents-surge/ |
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in this city has reported a surge in fire incidents of over 50 percent from January to February this year, compared to the same period last year.
Fire Chief Inspector Stephen Jardeleza, the city fire marshal, noted a total of 72 fire incidents, with 32 resulting in minimal damage, in the first two months of this year.
This figure is more than double the 30 fire calls, including 14 cases of minimal damage, recorded in the same period in 2023.
Out of the 72 incidents, 28 were categorized as structural fires.
Jardeleza identified electrical-related issues as the most common cause of fires, accounting for 19 percent.
The damage caused by fires was estimated at P16 million, marking a significant increase from the P904,000 worth of damage recorded from January to February 2023.
In observance of Fire Prevention Month, Jardeleza urged the community to be doubly diligent in safeguarding their homes by avoiding the overloading of electrical circuits, using approved cooking fuels, and ensuring proper maintenance of electrical lines.
“We continuously advocate for heightened vigilance in the home… Let’s protect our property, family, and other loved ones. The current dry conditions and strong winds, along with high temperatures, make materials more susceptible to ignition,” Jardeleza said in an interview with Panay News.
In Mandaue fire incidents are down but fire damage is up 800% in the first two months of 2024.
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| https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/800-increase-in-fire-damage-in-mandaue-in-2024 |
THERE was an 800 percent increase in fire damage in Mandaue City during the first two months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, the Bureau of Fire Protection Mandaue Office said.
Arnel Abella, head of BFP Mandaue, reported that their office had recorded around P1.7 million worth of fire damages to properties from January to February 2024. This is a rise of about P1.5 million compared to the same period last year, which was only P179,250.
Abella said in a media interview on Friday, March 1, 2024, that the damages recorded in 2024 were primarily from single-family houses, mostly made of light materials.
Despite the rise in damages, BFP Mandaue's data revealed that there was a decrease in the number of recorded fire incidents from January to February 2024, with only seven fire incidents, compared to the same period in 2023, where eight fire cases were recorded.
Abella is urging the public to ensure that their houses are safe from fire hazards. He is encouraging people to regularly check their wiring connections and replace any dilapidated wiring. Faulty wiring connections remain the top cause of fire incidents in the city.
He advises people to avoid electrical overloading and plugging in too many devices in a single circuit, leaving the kitchen unattended while using LPG tanks, butane canisters, or any fire-igniting materials.
Abella explains that when too much electrical current passes through the electric wires by plugging in too many gadgets, the wires may heat up and melt, which could start a fire. Hence, he said it is essential to be cautious and follow safety measures to prevent any fire accidents.
In both Mandaue and Bacolod City electrical-related issues, faulty wiring, are the most common cause of fires. Once a the fire starts it spreads quickly because houses are made of light materials.
Why have fire incidents across the nation increased? Is it because people do not heed fire prevention warnings? Is it because LGUs allow these tinderbox neighborhoods to exist? Or perhaps its a confluence of factors including the jury-rigged mentality of Filipinos whereby anything will do as long as it works, safety be damned? Whatever the reason fire incidents are up in the first two months of 2024 and there is no reason to think the increase will not continue.
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