LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Fire incidents in the province increased by more than thirty eight percent last year compared to the similar incidents that were recorded by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Benguet during the previous year, a top fire official said here recently.
BFP Benguet Provincial Fire Marshal Fire Superintendent Jessie S. Annasiw said that there were 111 fire incidents that were reported provincewide last year compared to the 80 fire incidents recorded by the bureau during the previous year.
He revealed that the major cause of fire last year was unattended open flame with 72 followed by ignition of materials from ember or flying ember – 10, electrical ignition caused by loose connections – 7, electrical ignition caused by arcing – 5 children playing with match sticks, overheating and other causes of fire – 4 each, smoking lighted cigarette and battery short circuit or battery exposure – 2 each and flammable liquids – 1.
Further, Annasiw claimed that there were 75 no-structural, 34 structural and 2 vehicular fires that were documented by the bureau last year.
The BFP official added that there were two civilians who died, one injured firefighter and four injured civilians as a result of the aforesaid fire incidents with an inflicted damage worth P9.1 million.
In 2022, unattended open flame was also the primary cause of fires with 26, followed by other causes of fire with 25, children playing with match sticks or lighter – 8, smoking lighted cigarettes or pipes and overheating – 6 each, ignition of materials from ember or flying ember – 4, electrical ignition caused by loose connection and electrical ignition caused by overloading – 2 each and liquefied petroleum gas explosion caused by defective hose line – 1.
Moreover, Annasiw said that during the same year, there were 47 structural, 29 non-structural and 4 vehicular fires that accounted for P54.4 million worth of damages.
On the other hand, there were also 2 civilians who died, one firefighter who was injured and three civilians who were also hurt during the occurrence of the said fire incidents in 2022.
Of the 76 fire incidents that were reported in Benguet in 2021, 38 were non-structural, 35 were structural and 3 were vehicular fires.
Annasiw explained that in the same year, there was only one civilian who died due to the fire incidents while there were no civilians or firefighters who were injured but the estimated damages caused by the fire incidents amounted to more than P23.8 million.
According to him, residents must make sure that open flames in their residences and backyards should be put out before leaving for work or any engagement outside their homes to prevent the occurrence of untoward fire incidents that may compromise the safety of life and property considering the dryness of the conditions in the atmosphere caused by the projected El Nino phenomenon.
He reminded the public to be vigilant on what is happening in their surroundings so that they will be able to seek immediate response from firefighters during the occurrence of fire incidents within their respective communities for them to help in saving lives and properties from eventual loss and damages. By Dexter A. See
