This year, number of fires down but casualties up

THE NUMBER of fires declined in the first two months of 2016 but casualties increased compared to the same period last year, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) statistics showed.

The BFP released the statistics as the country observes Fire Prevention Month.

By BFP’s tally, 2,571 fires were recorded nationwide in January and February, mostly in residential areas—a significant drop from the 3,103 fire incidents reported in the same period in 2015.

But the number of both civilian deaths and injuries rose this year compared to the same time last year. In January and February, 66 people were killed and 173 were injured in fires, while only 54 deaths and 158 injuries were recorded in the same period last year.

Children, elderly

Fatalities and casualties are usually trapped in the fire, with the most vulnerable victims being children and the elderly, BFP public information office chief Supt. Renato Marcial told the Inquirer.

“That goes back to a lack of preparation. When a fire hits a certain area, especially in informal settler sites with no urban planning and little to no exits, people will really get trapped,” Marcial said.

“Where will they pass, where will they be evacuated, who will put out the fire? That needs focused planning and preparation,” he added.

“So [fire prevention] is not just a family concern. It must involve the community. We have disaster risk reduction training and preparation; we need to include fire matters,” the official said.

Hazard mapping at home

Marcial encouraged the public to conduct “hazard mapping” in their homes by identifying and properly storing flammable materials and ensuring that fire exits are always accessible. They must also take note of the BFP’s hotline 117, or 7295166 in the National Capital Region.

The top three causes of fires nationwide are electrical failure or malfunction, open flames and cigarette butts. “Electrical connections are consistently at the top of the list,” Marcial said.

By BFP’s count, fire incidents escalated nationwide from 15,897 in 2014 to 17,138 in 2015.

But hopes are high that the numbers could be reduced this year after the BFP procured 469 new fire trucks last year to replace those that were more than 30 years old, Marcial said.

This will be further boosted by seven ambulances, 10 fire trucks and a rescue truck to be donated by the Japanese government to the BFP, which will go to earthquake-prone provinces in the Visayas, particularly Negros Occidental, Cebu and Leyte.