Firemen want kwitis banned after causing most holiday fires

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) wants the government to ban flight firecrackers after an aerial type of fireworks, kwitis (sky rocket), caused most of the fire incidents in Metro Manila at the height of New Year revelry.

“Most fire incidents we have recorded are due to kwitis. This firecracker should be banned because you never know when its glowing debris will land," said BFP-National Capital Region chief director Supt. Pablito Cordeta in an interview on GMA News' 24 Oras. Cordeta said that fire incidents rose from zero in 2008 to 18 this year, 11 of which are due to fireworks, primarily flight firecrackers. Of the 11 firecracker-related fire incidents, eight were recorded in Manila, two in Makati City, and one in Pateros, according to Cordeta. He also advised the public to soak unused firecrackers in water to avoid more fire incidents. “Ilubog na natin sa tubig iyang mga iyan para hindi na mapaglaruan ng mga bata at scavengers. Ito ay para makasigurado tayo na hindi na ito sasabog (Soak unused firecrackers with water so that children and scavengers would not be able to play with them. This is to make sure that these firecrackers won't explode anymore)," he said in a separate interview on dzBB radio.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Kwitis, a rocket-type firecracker which propels to a height of about 40 to 50 feet once lit, was also the second cause of fireworks-related injuries during the 2008 New Year festivities, according to records from the Department of Health. [See: DOH reminder: Even legal firecrackers cause injuries] Despite this, kwitis remains to be one of the legal firecrackers in the country. Under Republic Act 7183 or the Firecrackers Law, only firecrackers such as watusi (“dancing firecrackers"), Lolo Thunder, Pla-Pla, Judas Belt and Piccolo are prohibited from being sold and used in the country. - Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV