THE Bureau of Fire Protection - Davao City Division (BFP-Davao City) reported a 6.3 percent increase in fire incidents from January to February 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Senior Inspector Frances Marie Sendrijas, spokesperson for the Davao City Fire District, said 111 fire incidents were recorded in early 2025, up from 104 in 2024.
The top cause was electrical ignition due to loose connections (21 cases), followed by electrical ignition (18 cases) and open flames from rubbish fires or bonfires (15 cases).
As of February 2025, the top cause was electrical ignition due to loose connections (21 cases), followed by electrical ignition (18 cases) and open flames from rubbish fires or bonfires (15 cases).
She noted a rise in non-residential fires, particularly in industrial and commercial buildings, from 14 in 2024 to 20 in 2025.
Transport-related fires, such as vehicular fires, and non-structural incidents, like grass fires, also saw an uptick.
However, residential fires dropped by 30 percent, from 43 incidents in 2024 to 33 in 2025.
“For Davao City, the top location for fire incidents is Buhangin Poblacion, followed by Calinan Poblacion, Panacan, Talomo Poblacion, and in the fifth spot are Alfonso Anglionto Sr., Catulunan Pequeno, and Crossing,” he said during the ISpeak media forum, on Thursday morning, February 27, 2025, at the CHO Building.
As of February 2025, fire-related deaths have already matched last year’s total of three, while injuries surged from two in 2024 to 15 in 2025.
BFP-Davao has 450 personnel, 16 serviceable fire trucks, and five under maintenance, with four additional trucks expected this year.
Sendrijas acknowledged fire volunteers' contributions and highlighted fire hose mapping efforts in areas unreachable by fire trucks.
The agency is also coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for road-clearing operations, particularly in congested streets that delay fire response.
Sendrijas urged households to keep fire extinguishers to prevent small fires from escalating into major disasters. RGP