THE country has seen a 25 percent increase in the number of fire incidents in the first two months of the year, most of which occurred in residential areas.
Speaking at a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Friday, Bureau of Fire of Protection (BFP) spokesperson Fire Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said 3,044 fire incidents were reported from Jan. 1 to Mar 1 this year, from 2,424 incidents logged in the same period last year.
Smoking is the leading cause of fire incidents, followed by unattended open flames from cooking and electric ignitions, she added.
“Doon tayo naka-focus ngayon at majority po ng insidente ay residential. Kaya isa po sa programa natin although since 2019 pa naman po ito inilunsad, ‘Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan’ at kasama po dito iyong pagpapakalat ng EDITH – Emergency Drill In The Home,” Atienza added.
The BFP modernization which is set to commence this year, is seen to improve fire prevention and response efforts, the official said.
“Ang atin pong pinapalakas, siyempre iyong mga existing resources natin at tayo naman po ay excited sa pagkalatag ng BFP modernization. Sa sampung taon na darating, simula ngayon ay mapupunuan na po iyong kakulangan natin sa fire truck at fire station, at ganoon na rin sa pagdagdag ng personnel.”
As of January, Atienza said, 123 towns have no firetrucks and fire stations and only have fire prevention officers.
CHARRED. The remnants of 150 houses razed by fire in a residential area along Quezon Boulevard corner Recto Avenue in Manila on Feb. 1, 2024. The BFP on Friday (March 1, 2024) said it has logged a 25 percent increase in fire incidents in the first two months of 2024. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
