500 fires hit RP in early 2008

About 500 fires hit the country during the first 70 days of this year, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.

Senior Superintendent Carlito Romero, BFP director for operations, said the bureau has been exerting effort to inform the public to take measures to prevent fires.

“In the past years, most fire incidents broke out because of faulty electrical wiring, overheated electric fans, lighted candles and lighted cigarette left unattended,” Romero said during the Talakayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP), a weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine National Police.

Romero said that in the 2006, there were more than 8,800 fires, more than 9,000 cases in 2007 and about 500 in 2008 so far.

The BFP, Romero said, has embarked on programs to inform the public of several ways to prevent fires since the bureau only has 1,272 firetrucks and a total of 16,227 firemen.

“We still need a total of 1,891 firetrucks and 16,400 firemen to be able to effective carry out programs of the BFP. This includes coordinating with water companies to augment the number of fire hydrants and give us sufficient (water) pressure,” he said.

Local Government Undersecretary Marius Corpus said they “are stepping up our inspections of these commercial establishments as part of our Fire Prevention Month preparations in March.”

He added that the BFP will focus on malls, though it will also push through with “its annual inspections of boarding houses, dormitories and other commercial structures to help ensure public safety.”

Corpus said he has ordered BFP director Chief Superintendent Enrique Linsangan to give special attention to the food courts in shopping malls, where most liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanks –potential sources of fire-related accidents – are located.

The BFP will also inspect the electrical wiring of mall structures and any possible obstructions at all points of exit, Corpus said.