Fire Prevention Month in WV: A call to action and awareness

The Iloilo City Fire Station will organize a motorcade of fire trucks on the city main streets and a symbolic five-minute blowing of horns to officially open Fire Prevention Month today.
The Iloilo City Fire Station will organize a motorcade of fire trucks on the city main streets and a symbolic five-minute blowing of horns to officially open Fire Prevention Month today.

ILOILO City – March is Fire Prevention Month. This year’s theme is “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa”.

Fire Chief Supt. Felixberto E. Abrenica, the Region 6 director of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), said the celebration would officially begin on March 4, Monday. It will feature various activities aimed at raising public awareness about fire prevention, including the distribution of flyers with fire safety tips and information and education campaign (IEC) materials.

BFP-6 will also bolster its campaign on Oplan Safe Community, which includes visits by fire trucks to barangays identified as fire-prone areas to provide fire safety tips.

Abrenica said awareness efforts would extend beyond March, continuing throughout the summer, as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasts that the El Niño phenomenon could persist until mid-May.

Before the region-wide kickoff on Monday, each provincial, city, and municipal fire station will conduct its own activities on March 1, 2, and 3. For example, the Iloilo City Fire Station will organize a motorcade of fire trucks on the main streets and a symbolic five-minute blowing of horns to officially open Fire Prevention Month.

“Expect many activities and campaigns about fire prevention, fire safety, and other initiatives this Fire Prevention Month,” Abrenica said in an interview with Radyo Pilipinas Iloilo this Thursday morning, Feb. 29.

Abrenica assumed the role of director of BFP-6 on February 13, succeeding Chief Supt. Jerry Candido, who was transferred to Region 9.

He emphasized the goal of intensifying public awareness campaigns on fire prevention, as the region has already responded to almost 100 fire calls this year, particularly in February, which has been notably hot due to El Niño.

Of these, approximately 30 were grass or rubbish fires, with the remainder being residential, structural, electrical post, and mini-forest fires.

BFP-6’s fire prevention campaign is especially focused on boarding houses and dormitories, where some fire incidents have been reported.

“There’s a massive campaign for boarding houses and dormitories because it’s getting hotter, and we’ve already experienced incidents and casualties, so it’s quite extensive,” Abrenica explained.

He referenced a recent boarding house fire incident in Barangay San Nicolas, La Paz, where two casualties were reported: Renz David Aguilar, 22, of Concepcion, Iloilo, and Lyn Rose Sobretodo, 26, of Pototan, Iloilo.

Additionally, a residential fire on Rizal Street, Barangay 7, Roxas City, resulted in two fatalities, identified as Anita Villaruz, a person with a disability, and Nestor Clarito, both senior citizens.

“So, we are preparing now because the El Niño phenomenon is approaching, and many areas are drying up. The grass is easily ignitable, so we have a lot to do in terms of prevention and will also provide tips to our constituents as it gets hotter,” Abrenica said.

To ensure fire stations are ready to respond, Abrenica plans to visit several areas around the region to inspect the readiness of fire trucks and personnel.

Although BFP has not issued a specific alert level for the entire Philippines this Fire Prevention Month, the entire force of BFP-6 is on alert to respond promptly to fires.

In addition to ready personnel, BFP-6 has fire volunteers prepared to augment the force in case of shortages.

“Everything is ready and prepared, especially now during Fire Prevention Month,” Abrenica said.

Reminders
Abrenica highlighted the importance of public knowledge about fire safety tips, focusing on two key reminders: the cautious use of fire and electricity.

It’s vital, according to Abrenica, to be careful when using fire or coals in the kitchen, ensuring that no embers or fire are left unattended before leaving the kitchen and that the LPG tank is turned off.

Candles lit on altars at night should be extinguished, with care taken that no curtains or paper are near the burning candle.

Cigarette butts should be disposed of properly and ensured they are extinguished before disposal.

With electricity, it’s crucial to ensure that no appliances are left plugged in when leaving the house and to avoid leaving cellphones, irons, electric fans, and other devices plugged in unattended.

Abrenica believes that adherence to these basic fire safety tips can significantly reduce the occurrence of fires during this Fire Prevention Month./PN

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here