City fire chief reports lesser fires in '05

Fire incidents in Cebu City have lessened over a 10-year period, said Cebu City Fire Marshall Supt. Esmael Codilla.

Codilla said that from 1996 to 2005, Cebu City saw the most number of fire incidents in 1997 with 397 fire incidents and damage to property estimated to reach P147 million.

The year 2005 had the least number of incidents with only 112 but damage to property was placed at P116 million, making it the second highest in the 10-year period.

Codilla said the fire at the Cebu International Port where luxury vehicles were burnt contributed to the amount of the extent of the damage.

All incidents were attributed to electrical causes.

Codilla said that for the past 10 years, the number of fire incidents is diminishing because people now know how to prevent fires. He cited the BFP's fire prevention campaign that includes the remotest barangay.

For January and February this year, BFP has recorded 14 fires in Cebu City, which is lesser than the 27 fires that occurred last year.

The BFP conducts constant fire drills in different establishments and in barangays throughout the year. - Gregg M. Rubio