By Gail Momblan/PNA
ILOILO CITY – Fire incidents in Western Visayas increased by almost half on the first quarter of this year compared to the data on the same period last year because of El Niño, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) 6 (Western Visayas) reported on Thursday.
The BFP-6 recorded 628 fire incidents from January to March this year compared to 349 fire incidents on the same period in 2018.
“Extreme heat brought by the El Niño sparked more fire incidents this year,” Supt. Crosbee Gumowang, Assistant Director for Operations of BFP-6, said in a phone interview.
He said too much heat causes dry grass to easily catch fire.
This year, a total of 227 grassfires contributed the most in the total number of fire incidents in the region. It is followed by residential fire with 217, and miscellaneous with 64.
Gumowang noted that extreme heat also causes the fire to spread easily in residential areas, especially in illegal settlements.
He said human negligence is also a factor in the increased fire incidents.
“Faulty electrical connections, unattended candles, and cigarette butts are some of the top causes of fire,” he said.
Iloilo province and Iloilo City have the most number of fire incidents with 374; Negros Occidental with 118; and Antique with 46.
Gumowang said the BFP responded to the fire incidents but he said some incidents were unreported.
“Some came to the BFP to get a certificate for them to avail of the assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and that was the only time that the BFP was informed that they were victims of fire incidents,” he said.
To prevent the increase of fire incidents in the succeeding months, Gumowang said the public should always heed the advice of the BFP.
One of the effective ways is to read the flyers that carry fire tips and prevention measures given out by fire officers in municipalities.
Gumowang said the BFP continues its campaign to ensure fire-safe communities under the “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan”.
The “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” aims to identify fire hazard areas, create protection plans, and inform the locals of what to do in case of fire.
The number of villages that were visited by the “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan” will be consolidated by the BFP next week, Gumowang said.
At the end of the year, the region will recognize villages that “conduct intensive house to house fire safety surveys in densely populated neighborhood, resettlements, and fire-prone areas,” and award the villages with a “bayanihan” seal.
