By Chito Chavez
Quezon City Mayor Herbert M. Bautista ordered yesterday the early launch of the city’s fire safety campaign in the wake of two blazing incidents that engulfed several residents and left at least 200 families homeless in the last three days.
Quezon City Public Affairs Department (FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
Traditionally the nation celebrates the “Fire Prevention Month’’ at the start of summer in March.
“We need not wait for March. Let’s go down to the communities and remind people of the risks and if possible, get rid of the hazards,” Bautista said.
Bautista maintained that fire prevention schemes should be exercised year-round citing that “fire safety campaigns should be done on a regular basis’’ as this could happen anytime.
The mayor also recounted how his family lost their homes twice to fire incidents.
At least 100 houses were destroyed in a fire that gutted a community in Barangay Manresa close to midnight on Saturday leaving 200 families homeless.
In another blaze 13 families were left homeless as another inferno gutted their residence on Monday in Barangay N.S. Amoranto.
The city’s social services department immediately provided food and provisions to the affected residents who have sought temporary shelter at the Barangay Manresa covered court.
Bautista noted the city’s engineering department and disaster risk management office have likewise set up pop huts to house those who lost their homes.
Also Bautista has tasked city administrator Aldrin Cuña to coordinate the fire safety campaign with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the Barangay and Community Relations Department and the Public Affairs and Information Services Department.