Junkshop blaze greets Fire Prevention Month

CEBU, Philippines - A small fire that damaged a junkshop in Barangay Kinasang-an yesterday morning welcomed the month-long celebration of the Fire Prevention Month.

J5 Junkshop owned by Ryan Quezon was damaged when a six-minute fire broke out at 4:40 a.m. because of a lighted mosquito coil. The fire which has only caused P2,000 damage was immediately put off by the responding firemen.

Fire investigator Nilo Daculan of the City Fire Department said that the lighted mosquito coil used by junkshop worker Jimmy Ubas started the blaze on a pile cartons.

As the Fire Prevention Month started yesterday the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed the officials of the Bureau of Fire Protection to intensify its information and fire safety education campaign to generate the active support and participation of the public.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, through a memorandum, said that fire fighters should be more vigilant in its fire prevention campaign to prevent unnecessary loss of lives and damage to properties.

Robredo also asked the public to clean their surroundings from any fire hazards. “The public should do its share by ensuring that their homes are free from fire hazards and reporting violations on the Fire Code Law,” he said.

The Intelligence and Investigation Division of the BFP announced that in January 2011 there were 686 fire incidents nationwide with a total of 68 casualties and damages of properties estimated to cost around P240 million.

Of the 686 fire incidents in January, 512 of them were accidental fires, 17 were intentional, 150 are still under investigation.

Cebu City fire marshall Esmael Codilla yesterday spearheaded activities that officially start this year’s fire prevention month celebration under the theme “Kahandaan sa Sunog…tungo sa Kaunlaran.”

The activities started with the simultaneous blowing of horns in all fire stations, a motorcade participated in by firemen and their respective fire-fighting vehicles.

Codilla had lined up a series of activities for the month-long celebration. Among the activities is the refresher training course for volunteer fire and disaster control brigades, fire safety inspections, hydrant testing and fire drills.

The annual observance of the fire prevention month is pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 115 that was signed by then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1967. –(FREEMAN)