By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod encouraged barangays to create their respective community fire auxiliary groups (CFAGs) who will act as first responders to fire calls.
During the culmination of the Fire Prevention Month yesterday, Fire Chief Inspector Rodel Legaspi, city fire marshal, said Barangay Taculing is the first barangay to establish a CFAG after purchasing a fire truck.
This year, Barangay Handumanan also purchased a fire truck and has tapped the BFP to conduct a 40-hour training for their auxiliaries, Legaspi said.
Legaspi said that some barangays here have already signified the same intention. Thus, he reiterated his call to other barangays to also consider the said proposal for immediate fire response.
Legaspi said with the insufficiency of personnel, and considering the distance of a fire call, CFAGs can be a great help as first responders, as they are also equipped with skills and proper training, as well as equipment.
“They will act as a quick response team,” he added.
At present, the BFP has seven fire substations.
Meanwhile, Legaspi said he is grateful that no major fire incidents happened during the fire prevention month.
“We’re expecting na basi masaka pero for the whole month, indi siya amo na ka taas. Wala man ta na zero pero wala ta dako na sunog and wala kabuhi na nadula,” Legaspi noted.
Legaspi said that most fire incidents recorded last month were grass fire, garbage fire, and post fire.
Based on BFP records, 25 fire incidents occurred last month, which included five residential fire, 1 commercial fire, 1 storage fire, 8 grass fire, 8 electrical post fire, and 2 miscellaneous fire.
The estimated value of damaged properties was pegged at P205,100.
Though a little bit higher compared to 21 fire incidents in 2021 covering the same period, Legaspi said no major fire incidents occurred this year.
Legaspi said that this can be attributed to the involvement of various sectors which help the BFP educate the public about fire safety and fire prevention.
In fact, the BFP honored all participating partners from the local government unit, national government agencies, non-government organizations, CFAG, Volunteer Fire Brigades, rescue groups and media partners, during the Culminating Activity of this year’s Fire Prevention Month dubbed “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa.”
“We cannot do it alone and we thank you for partnering with us for supporting the plans and programs of the Bureau of Fire Protection,” Legaspi said.
