In line with the observance of Fire Prevention Month in March, the Davao City Fire District prepared various activities promoting fire safety in the city.
Fire Senior Inspector Frances Marie Sendrijas, Chief of the Public Information Unit of the Davao City Fire District, said during the ISpeak Media Forum on Thursday that they will have a kick-off ceremony on March 4, while on March 1, they plan to conduct a simultaneous blowing of horns activity.
A fire square roadshow is also scheduled from March 9 to March 10.
Meanwhile, from March 22 to March 23, they will hold a two-day combat challenge for the fire Olympics to be participated in by different barangay volunteers, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and private companies, including the organic personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Sendrijas also said that since its declaration in 1966 under Proclamation No. 115-8, it remains true that there is an increase in fire incidences in March due to the transition from dry to the rainy season in the country making it imperative to further strengthen fire prevention measures through activities prepared by their office.
She also said that the BFP has recently recorded a decrease in the damages sustained during fire incidents compared to last year’s record of 23 million.
“Last year, from January to February 2023, we had a total of 89 fire incidents compared to now we have a total of 108, but as to the damages, our estimated damages, mas bumaba po ang damages po natin it implies that we in the BFP is we are more on the fire prevention side kasi po last year we have a total of 23 million worth of damages compared to now we only have 7 million [Last year, in January to February 2023, we had a total of 89 fire incidents compared to our present record of 108; but as to the damages, our estimated damages, there is a decrease which implies that we in the BFP are more on the fire prevention side. This can be observed through our last year’s record of damages worth 23 million, currently, we have recorded 7 million worth of damages],” she said.
According to Sendrijas, despite the increase in the number of fire incidents, the damage is what they use as an indicator of whether or not the fire incident is big.
Currently, there are 15 fire stations in the city with fire trucks for every station. Sendrijas assured the public that although they still need more resources, their personnel remain capable of responding to different emergencies in the city.
Dabawenyos are encouraged to participate in the activities that the City Fire District prepared for Fire Prevention Month. The public is also once again reminded that fire safety is everyone’s concern. CIO
