EDITORIAL - Community awareness

Fire prevention month is still less than 20 days away but with the spate of fires sweeping through Metro Cebu, there are certainly valuable lessons that one should learn about the need to avoid such incident.

Because many areas in the metro are heavily populated, fire incidents can occur at any time. Unfortunately, many are still not prepared and have to be educated about what to do in case a fire erupts.

The past two months saw hundreds of houses and millions worth of property being reduced to ashes by fires hitting many areas across the metro. What’s more sad is that lives were also lost in some of these incidents.

The last incident, which razed at least 15 houses in Barangay Tinago, Cebu City, early dawn Friday, killed a 30-year-old man. The victim reportedly went missing during the incident and his body was recovered from the fire scene in the afternoon.

As thousands were rendered homeless, the local government would then scamper for measures – such as reblocking the fire site and road widening – that are aimed at preventing a repeat of the incident. However, such response has been proven to be not a good move after all.

Perhaps, it really helps if local authorities now start assessing thickly-populated areas in the metro and implement a mandatory reblocking, road widening and establishment of fire hydrants, among others, as part of fire prevention steps.

Yes, the community also needs to step up its part. Sitio leaders and members should be equipped with the basic knowledge about not only how to prevent an occurrence of fire but also on the need for a swift response once a conflagration breaks out.

We should not wait for the observance of Fire Prevention Month to be reminded of steps against the occurrence of fire. In a strong and vigilant community, everyone has the duty to observe fire prevention every day.