SunStar Cebu, April 16, 2007
FIRES last March left seven persons dead and 21 others injured, including a firefighter. They also destroyed more than P5 million in property, making it “the most destructive” Fire Prevention Month in recent years.
Supt. Esmael Codilla told Sun.Star Cebu that in his almost five years as a fire marshal in Cebu City, he considered this year’s celebration as the worst he could remember.
A comparative report from the Cebu City Fire Department revealed that from March 1 to 31 this year, the fire department recorded 21 fires.
In the same month last year, there were only six.
Of the 21 fires this year, 18 hit buildings or structures, one consumed a vehicle and two were classified as “grass fires.”
Damage to property skyrocketed. In March 2006, fires destroyed P465,500 in property. Last month’s tally: P5,140,500.
Electrical misuse topped the list of common causes of fire in this year’s Fire Prevention Month, with four cases. Three others were blamed on open flame or cooking, and another three cases were triggered by sparks or fireworks, flammable liquids and liquefied petroleum gas.
Investigators still have to confirm what caused nine other fires last March.
Of the 21 incidents last month, 11 were declared accidental.
One case was reported as intentional, the one that occurred last March 5 in Sitio Millennium, Barangay Cogon-Pardo, when two children, aged 6 and 7, set on fire the two-story house of their neighbor Joesapat Paler.
The fire last March 2 in Barangay Tinago displaced the most number of families, a total of 80. The fire last March 25 fire in Barangay Cogon-Pardo destroyed only one house, but killed seven members of a Filipino-Chinese family, including five children.
Seventeen maritime students suffered burn injuries during a fire last March 21 that destroyed eight structures near a university on Alumnus St., Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.
Judging from last month’s statistics, Codilla said there is a need to strengthen community involvement and cooperation in the fire prevention campaign.
The fire department has been conducting a massive campaign on fire prevention by conducting forums and lectures in the barangays and private companies “almost everyday.”
He, however, lamented that while barangay officials are willing to assist in their campaign, there seems to be a “lukewarm response” from the residents.
“Menos man ang response sa mga lumulupyo. We want to instill in them how important it is for them to know and learn about fire prevention. Their help is crucial,” Codilla said.
