Fire Prevention Month kicks off with 2 fires
Fire Prevention Month kicks off with 2 fires
FIRE broke out in Lahug, Cebu City and in the southern town of Dalaguete to mark the first two days of Fire Prevention Month.
The second alarm fire in Lahug was received at 4:32 a.m. yesterday.
It reportedly broke out on the second floor of Joel Sentino’s house on Gorordo Ave., a few meters from the barangay hall.
Firefighters put out the blaze by 4:40 a.m.
Damage estimate was pegged at P250,000, since the fire also destroyed one vehicle.
There were no fatalities, but Sentino’s relative was reportedly injured after he tried to help put out the fire.
According to FO3 Antonio Gonzales, they still have to determine the cause of the fire.
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All Cebu City fire trucks and some barangay fire brigade volunteers responded to the incident.
Firefighters reportedly didn’t have any difficulty responding to the fire since the house is near the road and there are water hydrants in the area.
Last Friday night, fire destroyed the house of Donesio Navarrete, 66, in Sitio Dibdib, Barangay Saksak, Dalaguete.
The Dalaguete Fire Station received the alarm at 7:25 p.m.
When firefighters arrived in the scene, the fire had already razed Navarrete’s house. It wasn’t able to spread since neighboring houses are far away.
Damage was pegged at P92,000. No fatality or any injury was reported.
Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
Bry. Fire Olympics
Seven barangays will show their readiness to respond to a fire when the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Mandaue City holds the Barangay Fire Olympics on March 23.
The competition, which is part of a series of activi- ties during the observance of the Fire Prevention Month, will be held in the Mandaue Reclamation Area from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SFO3 Sherwin Porcia, chief of BFP Mandaue fire safety enforcement section, said the each participating barangay will have a team composed of 10 members.
They will be given a fire scenario during the competition. The team that responds most effectively to the fire will win.
The participating barangays are Looc, Canduman, Paknaan, Cambaro, Subangdaku, Banilad and Opao.
Porcia, in a press con-
ference last Thursday, said the participants will undergo a training two days before the competition.
He said they are requesting the City Government to provide prizes for the winners.
By organizing the Barangay Fire Olympics, the BFP aims to raise awareness about how to prevent and respond to fire, Porcia said.
The observance of Fire Prevention Month every March began in 1967.
Porcia said the most number of fire cases are recorded during the month of March.
Motorcade
The BFP Mandaue held a motorcade yesterday to kick off the observance of the Fire Prevention Month in the city.
Last Friday, the BFP 7 held a walk, dubbed “Walk for a Fire Free and Fire Safe Nation,” in Cebu City.
Porcia they will conduct awareness campaigns in schools and barangays.
Last year, 20 major fire incidents occurred in Mandaue. The common cause of the fires was electrical misuse, Porcia said.
“The public should know how to avoid fire,” Porcia said. He urged the public to always check electrical wirings in their houses.
Appliances should also be unplugged when these are not being used. “Many cases of fires are caused by electric fans that house owners forgot to unplug,” Porcia said.
Adults should keep matches and candles away from children and get rid of combustible materials. “Each house can eliminate fire hazards through good housekeeping,” Porcia said.