The observation of the Fire Prevention Month officially kicked off on Friday, March 1, with a grand parade at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
In a statement, the BFP stated that firefighters from the bureau and volunteer fire brigades, various government agencies like the Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other private and corporate stakeholders graced the civic parade of fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and related assets and capabilities at the said event around 3 p.m.
"The country continues to observe the Fire Prevention Month with Presidential Proclamation 115-A of former President Marcos Sr. in 1966. According to statistics from the BFP, fire incidents frequently occur in the months of March and April, and are seen as having a direct correlation of the rising temperatures brought about by the summer season," the BFP noted.
“Fires electrical in origin still remain to be the leading cause of these incidents, averaging at about 40.72 percent of the 16,433 incidents recorded in the previous year 2023. In the sweltering heat of this summer season, forest fires, particularly the ongoing incident at Benguet, have been keeping our firefighters on their toes due to the challenging terrain and difficulties in the transportation of extinguishing capabilities," it added.
The BFP advised the public to ensure the maintenance of electrical connections by licensed professionals once every two years.
It also urged the public to exercise caution in using electricity especially with electric fans, air conditioners, and refrigerators, adding that having a good exit drill in the home and practicing good housekeeping are also recommended to minimize the chances of the occurrence of fire.
The BFP assured that it has continuously implemented "Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan," its flagship program in fire prevention, with the immersion of their firefighters at the communities, reducing fire hazards, doing fire safety education, and pre-fire planning in our communities.
"We encourage the cooperation of everybody as we attempt to reduce the number of fires this year. In case of fire and other emergencies, dial 911," the BFP said.