Fire incidents down by 42 percent in 2016, says BFP

The number of fire incidents in 2016 went down by 42 percent compared to that of 2015, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Friday said.

"Ngayon pong 2016 ay 539 as of December 27, at noong 2015, 936, so bumaba po siya nang nasa 42 percent,” said Fire Director Bobby Baruelo, BFP chief, in an Unang Balita interview on Friday.

Baruelo attributes this positive development to the increasing awareness of the public on the dangers and effects of fire incidents.

"Kasi po ang ating mamamayan, medyo namumulat na e. Nakikita nila sa ating telebisyon na kapag nagkakasunog, hindi lang ari-arian nila ang mawawala. May nangyayari rin lalo sa mga informal settlers na nawawalan pa ng buhay 'yung kanilang mga kasamahan,” he said.

Despite this, Baruelo advised the public to be extra careful especially in the celebration of the New Year.

"Ang ating laging paalala, huwag na tayong gumamit ng paputok. Sabi nga ng DOH (Department of Health), magtorotot na lang tayo,” Baruelo said.

Aside from this, Baruelo urged Filipinos to come together in one place and lit up fireworks as one community.

"Sabi nga natin, community fireworks display, doon na lang tayo. Lalo na doon sa mga congested areas, sama-sama na lang tayo,” he said.

"Ang Bureau of Fire Protection ay patuloy at muli't muling nagpapaalala sa inyo na mag-ingat po tayo. Tignan po natin ang ating kaligtasan lalong-lalo na sa pagsapit ng Bagong Taon kung saan tayo ay nagsasaya upang maging maganda ang ating pagsalubong,” he added. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News