BACOLOD CITY – A total of 336 cases of fire incidents were recorded in 2022, slightly higher than the previous year wherein 333 cases of fire incidents were recorded, a report from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Bacolod said.
January has the highest number of fire incidents with 53; followed by February with 47; May, 42; April, 39; November, 30; March, 25; October, 24; June, 23; September, 20; July and August, 12 each; and December, 9.
The BFP reported that electrical post fire topped the list with 102; followed by grassfire with 87; residential, 76; vehicle/special structure with 25; rubbish fire, 24; commercial, 8; storage, 5; business/government offices and industrial factory, 3 each; places of assembly, 2; and mixed-type occupancy, 1.
No fire incident was reported in healthcare facilities, detention, and educational institutions.
Fire Officer 1 Paul Servano, public information officer of BFP-Bacolod, said there is also a significant increase of eight percent in the amount of damage pegged at P9,783,750 in 2022, from P9,089,150 in 2021, based on the BFP operational procedures manual.
The BFP also reported an increase in the number of casualties in 2022, with 17 injured civilians, from seven wounded individuals, including one firefighter in 2021.
Servano said the increase in the data in the past year was due to the movement of people outside their homes, unlike in 2021, wherein people stay at their houses most of the time because of the pandemic.
Despite this, Servano said the BFP continues their information campaign, with the launching of ‘Kalimutan si Marites, Isipin si Edith (Exit Drill in the Home),’ which reminds the public about fire safety and prevention, particularly at home.