BFP: Fewer fires caused by firecrackers but safety, vigilance still needed

TAGAYTAY CITY – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Thursday noted a decrease in fire accidents caused by firecrackers and pyrotechnics since 2023, as it stressed that fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.

In a media conference, Fire Superintendent Rowena Ramos, chief of the BFP Calabarzon Public Information Office, noted a slight slowdown in fire accidents caused by firecrackers in the past two years.

Data showed that in 2023, the BFP recorded 43 fire incidents caused by fireworks. The following year, the BFP recorded 39 fire accidents caused by firecrackers.

As of October 2025, there are 16 such fire accidents reported so far.

Ramos added that the “recorded casualties and property damages still vary annually.”

“This underscores an important point that fire safety is not solely the responsibility of the BFP and partner agencies with similar mandates. It is a shared obligation that requires vigilance, cooperation, and discipline from everyone,” she said.

Ramos made the remarks ahead of the BFP’s activation of its “Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok” on December 1 in preparation for the extended Christmas and New Year holidays.

“’Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok’ is a safety campaign promoting safe celebrations and strict prohibitions of illegal fireworks during the Yuletide season… The primary objective is to ensure public safety and emergency during Yuletide season through intensified prevention, inspection, and response,” she said.

“Oplan Paalala” has three phases of implementation until January 5, 2026. Under its Phase 1 from December 1 to 22, the BFP will focus on intensified fire prevention efforts through stricter inspections, increased awareness campaigns, and more community dialogue.

It will also deploy fire trucks with public address systems and launch information dissemination campaigns in coordination with local and national authorities.

Once Phase 2 or D-Days kick in from December 23 to January 1 next year, the BFP will be on red or heightened alert status, during which the BFP must be fully ready to handle and respond to emergencies.

“[We must] ensur[e] full emergency preparedness and rapid response across all stations during peak acceleration… The fire engines and crew shall be deployed on strategic areas ready for emergency and eventualities,” Ramos said.

It added: “Also, it includes deployment of emergency medical services, personnel, and ambulances. That is to provide medical assistance and other related services in all identified places of assembly and other places usually blocked by volumes of people gathered.”

Even firework displays in communities, terminals, and malls must be strictly monitored to ensure that these have adequate fire safety permits and other protocols.

Ramos underscored the importance of the first two phases as awareness and adequate deployment is crucial at this time.

After the peak of the celebrations, Phase 3 will cover covered reporting and post-event analysis from December 1 to January 5.

Ramos assured that of the BFP’s 39,757 personnel, 31,907 are assigned to operational units and fire stations. The BFP is also equipped with 2,627 firetrucks and 567 ambulances which will be also deployed under “Oplan Paalala: Iwas Paputok.”

She added that the BFP is also working to equip local government units (LGUs) with fire safety equipment, while ensuring that buildings are compliant with proper fire safety measures. This is aside from conducting several community training programs.

Welcoming the incoming year is a time of celebration for Filipinos but the festivities often lead to injuries, casualties, and fire-induced damages.

In early January this year, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 843 firecracker-related injuries and 4 fatalities.

Back then, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the confiscated illegal firecrackers went up by 1,386% in 2025, with 83 individuals arrested and 600,130 seized illegal firecrackers worth P4,046,356. — JMA, GMA Integrated News