Fires double in Metro Manila around New Year's Day, with Tondo a hotspot

Since 2007, as revelers usher in the New Year, fire incidents have doubled in Metro Manila, with Tondo District in Manila recording the highest number of incidents.

 

Data from the Bureau of Fire Protection-National Capital Region shows that on a "regular" day, firefighters respond to 10 fire incidents. However, GMA News Research observed that the figure doubles in the 24-hour period before New Year's Day. Although the 25 reported fires on New Year's Day this year is 67 percent less than in 2010, the number is still more than twice than that on a regular day. Clustering of fire incidents

Out of the 100 fire incidents they mapped out since 2007, GMA News Research noted that:

While a clustering of fire incidents was noted in Manila, none was recorded in Quezon City.

 

“The City’s fully built-up nature has resulted in having congested areas where infrastructure and utilities can no longer support the area. Most fire-prone areas are of residential in nature where informal settlements have encroached and areas where old infrastructure has been left idle/derelict. They are found on the outskirts of the city and most of them are found in Tondo," a report of GMA News Research said.

 

Tondo District consistently figured as a site of fires during New Year celebrations. Every year since 2007, at least one fire has been reported in this area. Six, or more than half of the 11 incidents reported in the area since 2007, were caused by firecrackers.

 

“Ang mga Filipino, sa pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon, talagang may kasamang paputok. Karamihan naman sa atin na mahilig magpaputok, kung minsan hindi naman maingat sa pag-handle. Ito 'yung mga sanhi ng sunog sa panahon na ito,” Senior Supt. Belinda Ochave, deputy director of Manila Fire District, said in the report of GMA News Research.

 

While the agency strives to achieve the zero fire incident target of BFP, firefighters will have to work hard in depressed areas like Tondo, Ochave said.

 

“Sa Tondo nature na ng tao magpaputok sa Bagong Taon, 'yung talagang maingay ang pagsalubong sa Bagong Taon. Ang problema lang kasi hindi maaayos ang paggamit ng mga paputok. Bukod doon dikit-dikit ang mga bahay, depressed areas din kasi ang lugar na ito, ang mga bahay, dikit-dikit, masisikip ang mga daan,” Ochave says. Highest number of structural fires

 

Manila is among the LGUs in Metro Manila with the highest number of structural fires in the past two years. 

 

While it has more than enough fire stations by the ideal standard (1 fire station per 4 square kilometer of built-up area), Manila’s Fire District 1 is pushing for two more stations in Sampaloc and one each in Sta. Ana and Tondo. 

 

Damage to property still cause for alarm

 

But while the number of New Year fires decreases, the amount of damage incurred remains high. In a matter of hours, at least P1.23 million went up in smoke during the revelry welcoming 2011. 

 

BFP-NCR notes that no casualties or injuries were reported during the 24-hour period celebrating New Year since 2009.

 

Safe merry-making

 

Manila's deputy fire chief suggests holding off on using firecrackers in welcoming the New Year. She recommends just making noise using pots and pans, or just attending barangay-organized parties. 

 

Ochave recommends organizing a designated firecracker zone. “Ideal (as firecracker zone) 'yung malayo sa mga bahay, bakante, open and vacant areas,” she says.

 

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday also appealed to Filipinos to keep from using firecrackers, noting their harmful effects not only to people but also to the environment. Aquino urged the people to celebrate the New Year in parks or plazas and watch the fireworks display sponsored by the local governments and private sector. 

 

“Napakarami po kasing nalalagay sa panganib dahil sa paputok. Umabot po sa 1,022 ang nadisgrasya noong nakaraang taon. Karamihan po rito ay dahil sa paggamit ng paputok; at ilan din ang napinsala ng ligaw na bala at pagkalason,” he said in his message posted on his official website.

 

If revelers cannot resist lighting firecrackers, the BFP urged the public to observe safety measures and be ready with a container of water or a fire extinguisher.

 

"Mas maganda maghanda ng tubig o fire extinguisher, lalo na kung gumagamit ng Sinturon ni Hudas, 'yan ang kadalasan ang bata nadidisgrasya sa pagpulot," BFP Metro Manila head Chief Superintendent Santiago Laguna said in an earlier report.

 

 

The public can report fires to the BFP at 7295166. - with Carmela Lapeña, VVP/HS, GMA News