DAVAO CITY – The Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) said the number of fire incidents this year surged 50 percent higher compared to last year.
The BFP recorded 428 fire incidents this year, compared to 322 incidents last year.
Ironically, the fire prevention month of March posted the highest number of incidents with 55 grass fire incidents in Davao City.
“Because during that time grasses were dry which is easy to be burnt. When thrown with cigarette or bonfire sometimes it cannot be prevented,” Senior Fire Officer 1 Ramil Gillado added.
Gillado, fire and arson investigator of Davao City BFP, said electrical problem was the main cause of several fire incidents this year.
Gillado said that the number of incidents were not alarming but cited two separate cases that each claimed the lives of two women last April and early this month.
“Both died by unattended lit candle,” he said. On December 6, one lady pastor of Free Methodist Church at Purok 6, Barangay 37-D, Poblacion died when she was trapped in the fire. Her body was found in the bathroom.
On April 5, Marilyn Galano died and two were injured in a fire incident that destroyed three houses in Gawad Kalinga Village, Matina Gravahan, Matina Crossing.
Gillado said there were 15 fire incidents caused by unattended lighted candle which happened during brownouts.
He appealed to residents to celebrate a safer Christmas “by being more responsible in using the electricity and Christmas lights”.(davaotoday.com)
