Fire department renews warning about firecrackers, other hazards

MANILA, Philippines—Fire officials issued last-minute warnings to the public about typical hazards during New Year’s Day celebrations on top of traditional admonitions against using illegal firecrackers, as the country prepared to welcome the year 2012 on Saturday.

The director of the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region, Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna, reminded Metro Manila revelers not to light candles in their homes and leave these unattended, and to make sure to unplug appliances from electrical outlets if leaving the house.

In a statement, he also appealed to the public to call the hotline number 117 in case of fire or any other emergency.

On Saturday, the BFP-NCR led a motorcade of fire trucks around Metro Manila as part of its campaign against illegal firecrackers and other fire hazards.

Fire trucks from the BFP and volunteer fire brigades converged at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for a short program before going around city streets to warn the public against the use of illegal firecrackers and others possible causes of fire.

“This motorcade is part of the fire bureau’s strategy to instill awareness and remind the public to be extra cautious in welcoming the new year at the same time encourage them not to use firecrackers which are  one of the causes of fires,” Laguna said.

Based on the records of the BFP-NCR, there were at least 227 fires in December last year compared to 163 in Metro Manila this year.

Some 11 civilians were injured and two were killed in 2010 while in 2011, at least 21 civilians were reportedly injured and 21 were killed in fires, the BFP-NCR said in the statement.

In Mandaluyong City, the fire marshal, Chief Inspector Nahum Tarroza, led the distribution of “torotot” (New Year trumpets) to street children to discourage them from using firecrackers.