By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) saw minimal increase in fire incidents here in 2022 with 336 from 333 in 2021.
Based on data obtained by Daily Guardian from BFP-Bacolod, January had the most number of fire incidents with 53, followed by February (47), May (42), April (39), November (30), March (25), October (24), June (23), September (20), July and August )(12 each), and December (9).
The BFP also reported more injured persons in 2022 with 17 compared to 7 individuals, including a firefighter, in 2021.
Fire Officer 1 Paul Servano, public information officer of BFP-Bacolod, said they also noted an 8 percent spike in the value of damaged properties at P9,783,750 in 2022 against P9,089,150 in 2021.
The amount is based on the BFP operational procedural manual, according to Servano.
For the type of structures, electrical post fire topped the list with 102, followed by grassfire with 88, residential (76), vehicle/special structure and rubbish (24 each), commercial (8), storage (5), business/government offices and industrial factory (3), places of assembly (2), and mixed-type occupancy (1).
No fire incident was reported in forest, healthcare facilities, detention, and educational institutions, the BFP report indicated.
Servano said the increases in incidents and value of damaged properties were due to the movement of people outside their homes, unlike in 2021 when people stayed in their houses most of the time because of the pandemic.
Despite this, Servano said the BFP continues its information campaign, with the launching of “Kalimutan si Marites, Isipin si Edith (Exit Drill in the Home),” which reminds the public about fire safety and prevention, particularly at home.
“With the new normal, mostly sa cases, repeatedly gakatabo sa balay gid kay gakapabay-an na ang balay kung maglakat,” he added.
