BFP to inspect stores selling Xmas lights

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Davao City District will start next week its inspection in malls and business establishments selling Christmas lights in a bid to crack down on the sale of substandard lights.

Superintendent Honee Fritz Alagano, Davao Fire Marshall, said that these Christmas lights must contain proper import commodity clearance (ICC) and Philippine Standard seals to ensure that these have passed the quality standards.

According to her, fire incidents in Davao City during Christmas season are usually caused by substandard Christmas lights since firecrackers are strictly prohibited here.

She said they they are just waiting for the directive from other agencies

like the Department of Trade and Industries and from their higher office to start with the inspection.

“So wala pa siya nag-start although sa Davao City Fire District meron na ang fire safety inspectors nga tan-awon ang mga stores ug Christams Lights kung naa siyay ICC stickers, it means nipasok siya sa standard,” she said yesterday.

Many fire incidents during this season, she said, are caused by substandard Christmas lights.

Meanwhile, she added that for this year, they have recorded a total of 276 fire incidents from January to November which is way lower than in 2016 which totaled at 506. However, she emphasized that the damage for this year have increased because of industrial fire.

She said most of the fire cases are from residential with electrical short circuit as the main reason. JCR