Public warned: Summer heat increases risks of fire

Avoid throwing lighted cigarettes on dried leaves or grass.

Beware of plugging into “octopus” connections and illegal wire tapping.

With summer temperatures going up, the Mandaue City Fire Department renewed warnings to stay dry and safe.

“We just want to remind the public not to just throw lighted cigarette butts anywhere,” said SFO2 Roy Garcia in Cebuano in a press briefing yesterday.

Last Tuesday afternoon, a grass fire broke out near a gas station at the Mandaue Reclamation Area.

Before that, 14 houses were razed in a fire in sitio Basubas, barangay Tipolo.

Garcia also reminded homeowners to avoid octopus connections .

Octopus wiring refers to the practice of plugging many cords in one socket by using extension cords.

Garcia said octopus connections cause electrical wires to overheat that may cause fire.