Prevent yearend fires

The last weeks of the year are certainly far from the Fire Prevention Month of March but residents in Cebu would be wise to exercise caution lest a disaster like the one that befell barangay Suba a couple of days ago hits them.

Initial investigation points to electical misuse as the probable cause of the fire that ate up the house of a grandson of former Cebu City mayor Eulogio Borres on F. Rallos Street.

Firemen said the fire was caused by an overheated altar light bulb on the top floor of a three-storey house owned by Danilo Borres, 55.

The fire partly damaged six other houses, affecting a total of 96 individuals, including renters and house sharers, according to the city’s social welfare office.

Electrical misuse could easily surge nowadays because consumers will use up more power to decorate homes and establishments as the world’s longest Christmas celebration goes into full swing.

Another potential cause of fires are firecrackers and pyrotechnics that holiday makers will set off. Fire can even begin from a kitchen where feasts are prepared.

The community, led by utility firms like the Visayan Electric Co. and the Cebu Electric Co. should ensure that information against practices like octopus plugging be widely disseminated to discourage risky consumption of electricity.

The Department of Trade and Industry and the business sector needs to be strict in ensuring that items like the Belen or Christmas tree lights will be of high quality to spare buyers the grief of experiencing a Christmas blaze.

Broadcasters especially development-oriented ones can chip in their contribution by running spots that discourage hazardous practices like paying little concentration to cooking.

Golden-hearted individuals and groups should help the victims of the Suba fire, which ideally should be the last as the holidays, a time of joy and reunions draw near.