BFP: Less fire incidents but more casualty, damage in Q1 of 2017

The number of fire incidents in Metro Manila declined in the first quarter of 2017, but the number of casualties and amount of damaged properties went up compared to the same period last year.

This was according to the Bureau of Fire Protection, which said that fire incidents from January to March this year numbered to 1,217, lower than last year's 1,381.

"According to data that we have gathered, there is a slight decrease on the number of fire incidents compared to the same period of last year. We have 1,217 fire incidents compared to last year of 1,381 for 2016," said Senior Superintendent Rico Kwan Tiu, chief of the BFP-National Capital Region, during a command conference on Tuesday.

Kwan Tiu, however, said the total cost of damages increased by more than P65 million in 2017 to P158.4 million from the P93 million last year. 

This was, in part, due to the fire in an LPG refilling station in Pasig City in January and in a factory in Muntinlupa City in March.

"The damage to property is slightly bigger this year because of the two main fire incidents that transpired in Muntinlupa, which is about P49 million, and one in Pasig which is the explosion that amounted to more or less P20 million, that was included in our total estimate of damage," Kwan Tiu said. 

Kwan Tiu said the Pasig and Muntinlupa fires also contributed to the increase in injuries and fatalities in 2017.

Injuries went up to 83 in the first quarter from the 53 last year, while fatalities more than doubled from 14 to 31 in 2017. 

Nonetheless, Kwan Tiu assured total fire incidents in Metro Manila has been reduced, saying "in general, there is a significant reduction in fire occurrences since the month of January."

Kwan Tiu noted that Mandaluyong City only had one structural fire incident, or fires with significant damages, in the first quarter. 

He added Pateros and San Juan City had zero structural fires in March, which is the Fire Prevention Month. 

Meanwhile, Kwan Tiu said electrical connection was still the main cause of fire in Metro Manila, with 578 incidents, followed by lighted cigarette butts with 191, and open flames with 37. 

Faster response times

Kwan Tiu said the BFP has been pushing for faster response times for their fire trucks, which ideally should be within seven minutes. 

"It’s not about the fire prevention side but it’s on the fire operation side, we have to reduce yung tinatawag namin na response time," he said. 

"Within seven minutes dapat makarating na yung fire truck. Seven minutes is enough na macontain pa natin," he added. 

The BFP and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority recently launched the fire lane in EDSA. 

The designated fire lane in EDSA is the fourth lane from the sidewalk, or the second outer lane of the metropolis' longest highway. — MDM, GMA News