MANILA, Philippines ? The Department of Interior and Local Government on Thursday reported more than 6,000 fire incidents that occurred from January to October this year, a majority of which were accidental.

In its year-end report, the DILG said a total of 6,781 fire incidents were reported during a 10-month period, where 5,067 of which were caused by accidents.

Of the number, more than 1,500 were still under investigation. A total of 163 fire cases were believed to be caused by arson, and the Bureau of Fire Protection has already filed 60 arson cases in court.

Meanwhile, the DILG said that the BFP was able to inspect 391,019 establishments also during the same period this year, where the number of Fire Code-compliance increased by 6.84 percent compared to that of 2008.

On the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP), the DILG reported that a total of 23,447 jail inmates under various applicable laws were released throughout the year.

Meanwhile, 2,665 inmates were also transferred to other correctional institutions in an effort to decongest the city and municipal jails nationwide, the DILG said.

Under Oplan Dakip-Balik Piitan, the BHMP has also 10 of the 30 jail escapees. The DILG also reported that in an effort to enforce discipline in the jails, the BJMP has confiscated 84.69 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), 6.14 grams of marijuana, 735 drug paraphernalia, 1,484 deadly weapons, 181 units of cellular phones, money amounting to Php163,575 and 15,303 assorted items of contraband inside the various jails nationwide.