DAVAO CITY — The comparative damage report of the Bureau of FIre Protection in the city during the last two years have tremendously increased by 300 percent.
This how the BFP records showed for the fiscal year 2021 against fiscal year 2023.
The record indicated that most of the structures totally damaged were made of light materials mostly occupied by informal settlers and located in area with narrow passage and roads preventing the entry of big firetrucks.
More fire incidents hit residential buildings/structure compared to the commercial/industrial structures.
Fire Inspector Ramil Gillado showed the following records:
Fire incidents increased in 2023, as it recorded 667 incidents against the 551 fire incidents in 2022.
The cost or the damages in 2023 increased by three hundred percent (300%), from only over P63 million in 2022 to P121, 713,350,00 in 2023.
Eight individuals were killed in 2023 while only 3 in 2022.
Based on the assessment and record of the BFP, Gillado said, the common causes of fire was electrical problem. While some cases involved open flame while only a segment involve children playing fire devices like matches and lighter.
MITIGATION
The need to further educate the residents about fire safety is a must especially among family members. There is a need to improve the road passage especially in congested areas.
The Fire Department sees the need for a strengthened fire safety awareness from kids to the elderly to avoid accidents.
“Our biggest program, Oplan Ligtas Pamayanan. It is a program designed to educate our people about fire safe,” he said.
“Fire Prevention is everyone’s concern and responsibility, we continue to remind the people to ensure that anything which can cause heat and fire must be kept in a safe place,” Gillado emphasized.
For those who want to construct houses or building, Gillado advised, they need to seek the help of professional and certified electricians to ensure the exact size of electrical wire to be used in the building. Ensure that the building is away from hazards and water hydrants or faucets are well established in the perimeter.
The fire personnel are conducting their routine inspection on buildings, but Gillado empahsized “Everyone must cooperate and follow the basic fire safety measures.”
