The year 2007 had more fire incidents in Central Visayas compared to 2006, although fires last year registered less damage to properties based on the records of the Regional Bureau of Fire Protection Operations Division.
For 2006, BFP-7 recorded 502 fires compared to 643 in 2007 but the fires of 2006 pegged an estimated total of P129, 583,567 in damages while 2007 fires only caused P116,075,260 in damages.
But 2007 also saw more deaths due to fire with a total of 35 throughout the region compared to only 12 deaths in 2006.
In March 2007 a man was killed after a fire hit barangays Mantuyong and Guizo in Mandaue City. In another deadly fire incident in the last week of March 2007, seven members of a family died after their house and noodle factory was hit by a fire in barangay Cogon-Pardo, Cebu City.
The fatalities were identified as Eng Eng Chung Chua, 70; Karen Chua Que, 15; Ada Marie Magallanes Chua, 16; Arvin Magallanes Chua, 13; Helen Chua Que, 42; Arjohn Magallanes Chua, 12; and Kennette Que Chua, 10.
They were trapped on the second floor of the house as flames engulfed the first floor.
BFP-7 regional chief for operations Sr. Insp. Gildard Tulabing attributed the increase of fires in 2007 to small fires such as burning of tires, bonfires and garbage fires that were initially mistaken as huge fires.
Most of the recorded fire incidents recorded caused by electrical misuse with 176 cases in 2006 and 190 in 2007. Open flames and cooking flames caused 117 cases in 2006 and 170 in 2007.
The Fire Prevention Month was formally launched yesterday with the theme: “Prevent Fire: Be informed, get involved”.
BFP-7 director, Sr. Supt. Eleuterio Ituriaga in his speech yesterday, said fire prevention should be everybody’s business.
Provincial Fire Marshal, Chief Insp. Victor Vibares said that 75 percent should be given to fire prevention campaign efforts and the rest on fire suppression.
The activity started as early as 6 a.m. yesterday with a motorcade of fire trucks and support vehicles from different fire departments and fire sub-stations from Metro Cebu and fire volunteer brigades.
At the BFP regional headquarters in barangay Pahina-Central, fire fighters honed their skills in fire fighting and fire search and rescue of victims at the BFP-7 tower by using ropes to rappel down carrying “victims” who were later loaded to a waiting Emergency Medical Service ambulance.
The fire department is one of the most ill-equipped agencies in the government, using mostly vintage fire trucks and fire engines and support vehicles during fire operations.
Most of these vehicles were bought as surplus and many of them would bog down during operations that they require a lot of money for maintenance. — Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP