THE Davao City Fire District (DCFD) reported a decrease in fire incidents in the city from 496 incidents recorded from January to June 2024 to 340 recorded during the same period this year.
“Adunay pagbaba sa atong [There is a decrease of fire incidents by] 31.45 percent,” Russell Jake Marañon, chief of the Public Information Unit of DCFD, said during the ISpeak media forum, on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at the City Mayor’s Office (CMO).
Marañon said that most fire incidents were classified as non-structural, often caused by changing weather conditions. These include fires involving electric posts, rubbish, and grass.
He also explained that the number of structural fires involving buildings was lower this year compared to 2024.
He attributed the decline to more effective information dissemination in local communities through programs, like barangayan and house-to-house campaigns.
Additionally, he emphasized that the strict implementation of the Fire Code in business establishments, along with improved compliance from business owners, contributed to the reduced number of commercial fire incidents.
Marañon expressed gratitude for the decline and said the DCFD is working to further reduce fire incidents in the second half of 2025.
He also advised homeowners to avoid using substandard extension wires and to regularly inspect their home wiring systems.
Many wires, he said, are already damaged either due to old age or being chewed by rats.
He also urged residents not to perform DIY electrical work. He, instead, recommended hiring licensed professionals to handle wiring installations to minimize fire risks.
Currently, DCFD operates 15 fire stations across the city and plans to add seven substations to better serve the vast area of Davao City. RGP