BFP to inspect homes in fire-prone areas

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Fire Protection officer-in-charge Chief Superintendent Samuel Perez directed yesterday all regional directors, provincial, city and municipal fire marshals to step up the conduct of home inspections in fire-prone residential areas after the BFP recorded more than 100 fire calls during the first 15 days of this month.

“More often than not, many fire incidents occur in residential areas because of the presence of numerous fire hazards,” Perez said.

Perez said the inspection should be done in coordination with barangay officials with the homeowner’s consent for the identification, elimination or abatement of fire hazards

According to the BFP, among the main causes of fire in residential areas are electrical, such as overloading, illegal connections, overheated or defective electric fans; open flames like lighted candles and liquefied petroleum gas tanks; and stocks of combustible materials such as gasoline, papers or cardboard boxes.

Last March 8, a couple and their grandson died in a fire in Barangay Namayan in Mandaluyong City.

Statistics from BFP-National Capital Region show that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 29, a total of 213 residential fires occurred in Metro Manila, which is slightly lower than the 244 fires reported for the same period last year.