THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Davao City reported a 35-percent rise in the number of fire incidents here during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.
The bureau recorded 122 fire incidents from January to March this year, which is higher compared to the 90 fire incidents registered in the same period in 2017.
Of the 122 fire incidents this year, 51 involved residential buildings, five industrial, 11 mercantile, two storage, four business, two educational, two places of assembly, two miscellaneous, 19 grass fires, nine rubbish fires, six electrical posts on fire, and nine were motor vehicular incidents.
As to the cost of damage to properties based on the bureau’s initial assessment, this year’s fire incidents have already caused damage amounting to P17.37 million, broken down as follows: P1.27 million in January; P4.78 million in February; and P11.3 million in March.
BFP-Davao deputy head of the Investigation Section Senior Fire Officer (SFO) 2 Ramil Gillado said fire incidents went up by 63 percent in March, 22 percent in February and 37 percent in January.
Meanwhile, of the 90 fire incidents in the same period in 2017, 43 were residential, two industrial, six mercantile, one storage, two business, one educational, three places of assembly, three miscellaneous, nine grass fires, one rubbish fire, six electrical posts on fire, and 13 were motor vehicular incidents.
As to the damage to properties based on the bureau’s initial assessment, last year’s incidents caused damage worth P48.63 million, including P8.84 million in January; P36.89 million in February; and P2.9 million in March.
Gillado said the common cause of fire is electrical short circuit. Other causes were open flame, unattended lighted candles, LPG tanks or stoves, cigarettes, and unknown causes or arson.
Despite the increase in fire incidents in the first quarter, Gillado said the bureau’s safety inspections and information drive in every barangay remain. He also encouraged the public to be cautious and be aware of fire safety.