Fire prevention month kicks off
Electrical misuse remains to be the number one cause of most fire incidents in Central Visayas.
In the Bureau of Fire Protection- 7 comparative fire incidents report on 2010 and 2011, BFP- Regional Headquarters Chief Inspector Ronaldo Orbeta yesterday said there has been a decrease by 10.16 percent in the number of fire incidents.
There were 669 recorded fire incidents on 2010 while there were only 601 on 2011.
Electrical failures remained the leading cause of fire incidents with 192 cases on 2010 and 324 on 2011, Orbeta said.
Second leading common cause is an open flame or cooking with 97 cases on 2010 and 65 on 2011.
Also in the report, there were 32 fatalities in 2010 while only 10 in 2011.
The estimated fire damages on 2010 reached P263, 949, 840. On 2011, it was only P144,870,760. But Orbeta said that the amount does not yet include the amount for the damages in the fire that gutted the Gaisano South- Central since the investigation is still pending before the BFP- National Headquarters.
BFP for operation Supt. Esmael Codilla reminded the public not to use substandard wires to avoid fire. Codilla stressed that fire prevention is everybody's business.
With Fire Prevention Month starting today, the BFP is also stepping up its fire safety awareness campaign with the theme, " Makiisa, Makialam, at Makipagtulungan Upang Sunog ay Maiwasan.”
“Every day must be fire prevention day. BFP is doing its best to prevent fire through the proactive approach of the community,’” Codilla added.
Activities for Fire Prevention Month include an information and dissemination campaign in different schools and barangays and a BFP Fire Olympics.