BY IME SORNITO & MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Recent residential fire incidents in Western Visayas rouse the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to aim for a “fire-free” New Year celebration.
Fire Chief Superintendent Jerry Candido, BFP Region 6 director, said sufficient efforts on information dissemination on fire safety were made by the city, provincial and municipal fire marshals.
The fire bureau has been on “red alert” status since Dec. 23.
“We are hoping and praying nga mangin fire-free ang New Year, although for the last week sunod-sunod ang sunog naton, especially sa Bacolod City,” Candido told Panay News.
He emphasized that firecrackers and fireworks pose additional hazards on top of the most common causes of fire, like faulty electrical connections, unattended lit candles, and liquefied petroleum gas regulators left open, among others.
Candido added that his personnel have been vigilant in roving and monitoring the designated areas in which people can sell fireworks.
The first firework-related fire incident logged by BFP-6 was in Murcia town in Negros Occidental last week.
Candido added that the BFP goes hand in hand with the Department of Health in implementing “Oplan: Iwas Paputok.”
Achieving zero New Year fire incidents will require everyone’s cooperation, he said and encouraged the public to watch or engage in community fireworks displays or use alternative noisemakers.
Although the BFP discourages the use of firecrackers to celebrate the New Year, Candido said the bureau cannot force Filipinos to comply.
With this, Candido advised those who want to light fireworks not to do so in congested areas, especially near houses or children and where there is flammable garbage.
At 10 p.m. on Dec. 31, the BFP-6 chief said those whose houses are made of light materials such as lawanit, amakan, plywood, and nipa should wet their roofs and walls with water so that it is not easy to burn when debris from fireworks falls.
“Bas-on para kon magtalang man ang any kind of firecrackers and fireworks indi magkalayo ang aton balay,” he said.
Candido shared safety measures to observe in the kitchen as well.
“Indi magsalig nga waay kita sang nakita nga baga sa kalan. Ang pinaka-safe nga obrahon hikapon sang inanay lang kay dapat wala sang init, bugnaw lang na kay maski abo na sia nga wala aso kon may init may chance nga mag-rekindle or magkalayo,” he explained.
He reminded smokers not to light a cigarette inside the house, especially when under the influence of alcohol.
“Those are the things that we have to remember. Again, naga-focus kita sa palupok, but we should not forget sang other common causes of fire,” Candido said.
From the night of Dec. 31 until Jan. 1, he and all city, provincial and municipal fire marshals in the region will be on duty to ensure that precautionary measures are in place and response is swift when there is a fire.
“We are required to be in fire stations, including me. I will be in my office on Dec. 31st and until Jan. 1. We assure the public that we will be there on time,” he said.
The BFP-6 is also preparing the fire trucks and other equipment, while municipalities whose fire trucks have malfunctioned are advised to report to the provincial or city fire marshal so that a contingency plan is made.
But Candido emphasized that in case there is a fire, call the fire station immediately and don’t wait for a few minutes because a fire could cause much damage in one minute.
Furthermore, the public is strongly urged to collectively commit to being responsible citizens by observing the following fire safety reminders:
* Use safe noisemakers. If possible, avoid fireworks and pyrotechnics.
* If unavoidable, only buy fireworks and pyrotechnics from registered manufacturers and sellers. Beware of fake fireworks that can misfire and injure the user.
* Do not store fireworks for a long time. Keep them in a dry and closed place away from the possibility of lighting them, such as electrical outlets, switches, and stoves, among others.
* Do not let children handle fireworks of any kind. Even a simple pyrotechnic needs the guidance and supervision of an elder.
* Do not light fireworks near a house or any building, as they can enter. Move at least 50 paces from the house. Ask your barangay where the designated area is for fireworks.
* Never relight any unexploded fireworks. Wait for 15 to 29 minutes and pour water over it.
* Do not release “sky lanterns,” as they may fall and become a source of fire.
* If your house is made of concrete, make sure all doors and windows are closed.
* Do not set off firecrackers while intoxicated, as this frequently results in injuries.
* Ensure that no electrical appliance is left plugged in when nobody is home.
Candido noted that only one town within the region, Barbaza in Antique province, is imposing a firecracker ban./PN
