DAVAO City saw a significant rise in fire incidents last year, with data from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Davao City Fire District (BFP-DCFD) showing an increase of 22 percent, from 667 cases in 2023 to 855 in 2024.
Despite the higher number of fires, the overall damage decreased, with property losses falling by 20% compared to the previous year.
Fire Senior Inspector Shaira Borja, head of the DCFD’s intelligence and investigation section, provided a breakdown of the figures in a press conference recently.
According to Borja, the majority of the fires in 2024 were non-structural, with 419 incidents categorized as “minimal damage.” Residential fires comprised 277, while 108 were in non-residential buildings and 50 involved vehicles.
While the number of fires increased, Borja explained that the DCFD still faces significant challenges, particularly in fighting fires in areas with weak water pressure. This issue remains a major obstacle for firefighters across the city.
“We lack manpower, we admit that. We are constantly coordinating with the Davao City Water District (DCWD) to put up more fire hydrants in strategic areas. But there are still parts of the city where water pressure is weak,” Borja said, speaking in Cebuano.
In response, the DCWD committed to supporting the city’s firefighting efforts. In a statement issued on January 28, the water utility assured that it had a “sufficient water supply” for both firefighting and disaster response needs. They further assured their dedication to maintaining a reliable water source for emergencies.
Despite the challenges, the total financial loss from fire damage in 2024 was P97.6 million, a significant drop from P121.7 million in 2023. This decrease in damage is attributed to better fire management and faster response times, despite ongoing logistical hurdles.
Looking at the current year, Borja shared that from January 1 to February 18, 2025, Davao City had already experienced 99 fire incidents, with estimated damages of P15.6 million. This was a slight decline from the 112 fires recorded in the same period in 2024.
As Davao City continues to address these challenges, coordination between the DCFD, DCWD, and other agencies remains essential to minimize the impact of future fires and ensure the safety of residents. DEF