CEBU CITY—Firefighters here had their hands full in the first week of this month, which is being observed as Fire Prevention Month.

The Cebu City Fire Department (CCFD) reported that six fire incidents have been recorded in the city for the first six days of the month alone.
Last March 1, separate fires broke out in Barangay Capitol Site and Barangay Poblacion Pardo.
Two fires also broke out on March 5 in Barangay Mabolo and Barangay Ermita and another two in Barangay Lahug and Barangay San Antonio on March 6.
At least P14 million in properties were destroyed in the six fires, said Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendel Villanueva, information officer of CCFD (CCFD).
“As to the causes of these fires, we are still investigating but we are focusing on faulty electrical wirings. It could be that some wiring have not been properly installed after they got damaged by typhoon Odette,” said Villanueva.
Villanueva said the six fires to start the month could be considered alarming.
Last year, the city recorded 18 fires for the month of March in which at least P7.4 million worth of property was destroyed.
“In 2022, we recorded 23 fires for the month of March but the amount of damage was only P1.4 million. In March last year, there were 18 fires and P7.4 worth of damage. For this year, we still in the first week of March but the damage is already at P14 million,” said Villanueva.
Villanueva said the CCFD will  intensify its information dissemination campaign to prevent fires especially at the time when the country is observing the Fire Prevention Month.
Villanueva said the public should be extra cautious not just during the Fire Prevention Month.
“We should be aware all the time to prevent these disastrous fires,” said Villanueva.(Calvin D. Cordova)