Friday, February 29, 2008 BFP commemorates fire prevention month By Grace L. Plata
THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has renewed its fire prevention campaign in view of the coming summer.
In commemoration of Fire Prevention Month in March, the BFP will be holding a series of activities including a fun run, forest fire seminar, and a mobile information drive to remind Dabawenyos to be responsible with equipment or products that may start a fire.
The Forest Fire Seminar on March 3-5 will be participated by BFP personnel from all throughout Mindanao so they could update their knowledge on how to deal with fire situations.
BFP Chief Wilberto Rico Neil Kwantiu, in Thursday's I-Speak forum, said an inspection of government buildings, private offices, residential buildings, and other establishments will be conducted within the month to make sure the buildings are in compliance with BFP requirements and deemed fire-safe.
One of the woes of the BFP involves residences that have become semi-boarding houses.
In an interview in June last year, Kwantiu urged students to opt to stay in registered dormitories and boarding houses as these are regulated and inspected according to standards set for multiple use and occupancy, and thus are safer than ordinary houses renting out a room or bed spaces.
"Don't go for very cheap boarding houses na attached lang sa bahay, prefer safer ones. Check the electrical installations and outlets kung nakabitin lang ba (if merely left hanging) or left open na malapit sa tubig (near the water) because in most cases, faulty wirings are the cause ng sunog (of fire)," Kwantiu said.
It is also safer to look for the establishment's business and other accreditation permits to make sure that this was checked by the BFP, he said.
Kwantiu admits that while they are inspecting all educational institutions, dormitories, and boarding houses in preparation for the school opening, they are relying only on the list of establishments issued by the business bureau, hence boarding houses or dormitories that are not declared are most likely not going to be checked unless concerned citizens complain.
"It is really hard to monitor boarding houses na part lang ng private dwelling at hindi (not) registered sa business bureau and these are the places na most prone sa fire kasi mga dikit-dikit na mga bahay (closely built houses)," Kwantiu said.
The BFP national office has issued a memorandum last April 2007 for a "no let-up drive" policy of fire safety inspection with emphasis on schools and dormitories and boarding houses.
To ensure that schools and establishments will comply with the provisions of the Fire Code, BFP-Davao sent letters to regulating bodies such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Labor and Employment, and Technical Education Skills Development Authority to require these institutions to have a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) before they are given accreditation or permits to operate.
"Having the FSIC will mean we have already checked and inspected their buildings to make sure na meron nga sila nung mga kinakailangan gamit at iba pang (they have the necessary equipment and other) requirements that would make it easier for students or boarders to come to safety in times of fire or other emergencies," Kwantiu said.
Among the requirements for the issuance of the FSIC are visible and accessible exits that are big enough to accommodate grown persons.
"Yung mga na-check namin na medyo maliit yung exits or may obstruction dun sa exits, we issue them a notice to correct violation para mapalakihan or ma-clear yung exit," Kwantiu said.
BFP will monitor and follow up on establishments given notices. If they would not comply after two warnings, the BFP will recommend the closure of the facilities.
