EDITORIAL - Fire prevention

Less than four hours before the start of Fire Prevention Month, an electric fan overheated in a locked bedroom in Barangay Tanza, Navotas City. Residents heard an explosion, and a blaze began eating up the shanty built along a riverbank. By the time the fire was contained, it had rendered around 80 families homeless.

Fortunately, no one died in the fire. But on the second day of the month, a couple lost their two-month-old son in a blaze that destroyed their home in Zamboanga City. The fire, blamed on defective electrical wiring, swept through the bunkhouses of workers at a construction warehouse and left 150 people homeless.

The temperature is rising as summer approaches, and more fires are expected throughout the month, especially in communities with many wooden houses. March traditionally records the highest number of fires, which led authorities to declare it as Fire Prevention Month.

Many of the fires can be prevented. Bureau of Fire Protection officials say the top three causes of fires in the country are defective electrical connections, lit cigarette butts that are carelessly discarded, and open flames from unattended stoves.

Last year, 14,000 fires were recorded all over the country, leaving 304 people dead and destroying about P7.8 billion worth of property. In the first two months of 2018 alone, the government has already recorded 1,758 fire incidents across the country, which have killed 22 people and destroyed property valued at over P1 billion.

Accidents happen, but fires can be prevented with relatively simple precautions. In commercial and industrial establishments, compliance with fire safety codes can save lives and property. The use of smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, proper electrical connections and fire exits are reasonable requirements.

At home, people can exercise care in the use of candles as well as gadgets and appliances that use electricity or open fires. There have been several cases of battery chargers exploding and setting off blazes. Fire Prevention Month should raise public awareness of the consequences of carelessness.

This special month should also lead to additional efforts to boost the nation’s firefighting capability. Despite continuing efforts to upgrade firefighting equipment, the capability remains inadequate even in affluent cities, especially in putting out chemical fires. With sufficient firefighting resources, a tiny spark need not turn into a conflagration that leads to the loss of lives and property.