Every month of March, as the whole country experiences the shift from the cold weather to warmer temperatures, the threat of fire occurring partly because of the prevailing heat increases.
The government thus picked the right time to observe Fire Prevention Month in March, the start of the local dry season during which fire incidents are prone to be rampant.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said a total of 13,029 fire incidents were posted from Jan. 1 to Dec. 26, 2022 which is four percent lower than what was recorded during the same period in 2021.
While these positive numbers might be attributed to greater public awareness and disaster preparations engendered by the massive information drives, the fire caused by firecrackers and fireworks increased, along with those caused by leaking and exploding LPG tanks.
Authorities still list faulty electrical connections and electrical overloading as the No. 1 cause of fire in the Philippines. It becomes imperative therefore to focus on electrical safety in any campaign to prevent fire, if we are to save precious lives and property from going up in smoke.
The things to watch out for in connection with electrical usage are old wiring, improper connections and poor or damaged wire quality. It should be noted that overloading occurs when the current being passed through the wires exceeds the capacity limit the wires can handle; this can heat up the wires melting the insulator, producing sparks that can lead to fire.
There are other reminders that are so simple and ordinary that many people have taken them for granted. Some of these are:
• Never leave an open stove or lit candle unattended. Unlike other causes, unattended cooking or lit candles involve the presence of active fire. Leaving it unattended can lead to serious accidents.
• Refrain from using firecrackers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, including fiestas and other merrymaking occasions. Watch only fireworks duly approved by local government units.
• Dispose of your cigarette butts properly. Make sure there is no active ember when you throw it in the garbage bin, where paper, plastic and other flammable materials are plenty.
• Solvents, cleaning agents, adhesives, paints and thinners can ignite and explode if not stored properly. Store these flammable liquids in their approved containers, properly sealed and stocked in places with the suggested temperature indicated in the packaging.
• Use alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers as directed by building and fire authorities. They form part of a whole system of preventive measures against fire.
Although fire and other disasters always happen, we have to recognize that these man-made catastrophes are most of the time preventable. Fire prevention is everybody's concern, during the month of March and also in the rest of the 11 months of the year.