THE Bureau of Fire Protection in Davao Region said the number of fire incidents from January to February 2017 went down by 49 percent to 54 from 110 in the same period last year.
"We tallied a total of 27 cases last January 2017. For February, 27 were also reported. This is quite low compared to last year's 110," said BFP Central Fire Station Commander inspector Christian Cena, who was a guest during the AFP-PNP Press Corps 11 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel Wednesday, March 1.
The recent fire incidents this year resulted to four deaths while nine were injured.
BFP Davao Region reported that the estimated damages for 2017 grew to P44.4 million compared to last year's P12.3 million.
"For 2017, commercial areas are the ones highly affected by fire incidents," Cena added.
He said problems with electrical lines and unattended fire sources like candles and cooking stoves are among the main causes of fire.
"Part of our measures to lessen such incidents is to conduct public fire safety awareness campaigns. This Fire Prevention Month, we will be having a refresher course on the barangay (village) level. We will also be conducting house-to-house discussions," he said.
For March, which is the Fire Prevention Month, the BFP Davao Region has lined up activities on fire safety awareness.
"On March 3, there will be a Fire Square at the Davao City Fire District. The event is a poster making contest participated by both public and private schools, elementary and secondary levels," he said.
Other activities for the whole month include a city fire awareness campaign dubbed as the "Berong Bumbero sa Paaralan," on March six to ten and the inspection and testing of all fire hydrants on March 13 to 17.