Cause for alarm

Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) head Chief Superintendent Francisco Senot has expressed alarm over the increase in destructive fire incidents last year as he urged the public anew to cooperate in the effort to prevent fires during the observance of the Fire Prevention Month.

In a statement, Senot noted that the increase in the incidence of destructive fires in 2003 occurred despite the year-round fire safety awareness campaign by various field units of the fire service.

"The increase in destructive fires is very alarming," he said. "What is distressing is that majority of these fires could have been prevented had the victims taken the necessary fire safety precautions."

Based on BFP’s comparative report on fire suppression for 2002 and 2003, the incidence of fire increased by almost 24 percent last year from 8,257 incidents in 2002 to 10,234 incidents in 2003.

Majority of the fires recorded in 2003 were so-called structural fires, involving houses or residential establishments, and commercial buildings.

Structural fires increased from 3,714 cases in 2002 to 4,320 last year. The remaining figures were forest or grass fire incidents, and vehicular fires.

Superintendent Bobby Baruelo, head of the BFP’s Public Information Services, said most of the fires were due to electrical problems, covering 3,005 cases of fires in 2003, which is 31.57 percent higher than the previous year’s record of 2,284.

The rest involved combustible heat or bonfires and open flames such as burning candles or unattended cooking, which posted a 62.59 percent increase with 1,317 incidents in 2003 and 810 incidents in 2002; and 1.99 percent increase with 1,710 cases in 2002 and 1,744 cases in 2003, respectively.

"Therefore, fire loss also increased by 4.77 percent from P3.98 billion in 2002 to P4.17 billion last year," Baruelo told The Star.

Meanwhile, the Safety Organization of the Philippines, Inc. (SOPI) echoed the call of the BFP for the public to support the fire safety awareness campaign.

SOPI president Dr. Mario Tanchanco pointed out that the biggest problem being encountered by fire safety practitioners was the public’s "apathy."

"Public apathy is not only prevalent in congested areas where majority of destructive fires take place but even in residential commercial and business areas in various parts of the country," Tanchanco said.

For this month’s observance of fire prevention, the BFP has lined up various activities that include seminars and dialogues with barangay officials and residents and an industrial and commercial fire brigade competition.

Back-To-Back

In Makati, two houses were gutted in one-hour fire incidents that hit the city for two consecutive days.

The second floor of a four-door apartment owned by Carmencita Catibayan in Barangay Bangkal and a house owned by Felicisimo Santos in Barangay Pinagkaisahan in Makati City were destroyed last Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

Monday’s fire broke out at around 8:45 p.m. at the first house being rented out by Catibayan located at 2540 A. Bonifacio corner Rodriguez streets in Barangay Bangkal. It reached the second alarm before it was put out at 9:38 p.m.

Initial investigation conducted by arson prober Fire Officer 1 Ervic Gavierez showed that an unattended candle at an altar might have caused the blaze. "No one was in the first house when it happened."

Senior Fire Officer 2 Samuel Guzman said another fire broke out at 7:54 p.m. last Tuesday that lasted until 8:52 p.m. at the 72-year-old Santos’ house located at 3433 Kalayaan Avenue corner Limbo street, Barangay Pinagkaisahan.

Guzman said the fire originated at the second floor, inside the room of Santos’ son Fernando, a family driver. The fire might have been triggered by an overheated electric fan.

Fire-Free

In Navotas, Mayor Toby Tiangco together with the local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) yesterday called on the local residents to ensure a fire-free Navotas.

"I ask my fellow Navoteños to be cooperative, vigilant and safety-conscious not only this summer but constantly. I have always believed that it is a lot better to be safe than sorry," Tiangco said.

This admonition came as Navotas celebrates the Fire Prevention Month adopting the theme "Kapabayaan ay Iwasan: Kaalaman at Kamalayan sa Sunog ay Kailangan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan."

Tiangco has ordered local government offices to work closely with all sectors of the community for a more efficient dissemination of information and increasing the awareness of local residents in preventing fires. He has also instructed the Business Permits and Licensing Office to make sure that registering or registered establishments comply with the fire and building codes.

In Las Piñas, the city fire bureau, in cooperation with Rep. Cynthia Villar announced a series of fire drills and other activities to ensure the safety of residents.

The solon said that regular fire drills at public schools are being held to educate students on fire safety.

Also, over a thousand volunteers have been tapped to augment the local firefighting force. Volunteers continue to undergo rigid training and attend seminars on fire safety.

"Our programs on fire safety are in place. Alam naman natin na usong-uso ang sunog lalo na kung tag-init. Kaya pinaghahandaan na ito ng Las Piñas," Villar said. – Evelyn Macairan, Jerry Botial