FAULTY electrical connection remains the leading cause of fire incidents in the Cordillera region.
Senior Fire Officer 2 Camilo Balanza Jr., of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Cordillera, said that aside from faulty wiring, children playing with lights and matches and the use of candles are also the major causes of fire, including vehicular fires, sparking electrical posts, forest and grassfires and garbage fires.
In Baguio City, 20,000 commercial and residential establishments in 2017 have underwent the necessary inspection before being issued fire safety occupancy permit as compared to the 18,000 in 2016.
"In terms of rating, we consider Baguio City establishments to be compliant with the fire safety occupancy requirements. Baguio City Fire Marshall Chief Inspector Nestor Gorio have been very keen on his fire inspectors to take notice of the strict implementation of the national fire code or Republic Act 9514," Balanza said.
In 2017, the bureau recorded 78 fire incidents, 34 of which were residential. Since January this year, the BFP listed 10 cases.
BFP-Cordillera Director Lilibeth Simangan is set to lead the bureau’s fire prevention month in Baguio City. The celebration has a theme “Ligtas na Pilipinas ang ating hangad, Pagiingat sa sunog, sa sarile ipatupad.”
The month-long activity will start with a unity walk on the first day of March, a five-minute blowing of horns at all fire stations in the region from 6 a.m. of March 2, the "Berong Bumbero" mascot sa paaralan educational tour of elementary schools for fire safety briefings, and a bike for a fire safe nation on March 10.
On March 12, a refreshers training course for all volunteers and barangay disaster brigades is set to push through in Baguio City, followed by a three-day open house on March 13-15, the fire prevention games on March 17-31, the salo-salo laban sa sunog boodle fight on March 19, the simultaneous conduct of the drawing, essay writing, photo, poster making, and battle of the bands on March 5-7, before the culminating ceremony on March 25.
Balanza said as the nation celebrates the Fire Prevention Month, there is a need for the community to be aware on the various fire safety tips their office is providing.
