Fire incidents down 35 percent in March

MANILA, Philippines — Fire incidents decreased by nearly 35 percent last month, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported yesterday.

Data from the BFP showed that 811 fires were recorded from March 1 to 31 – observed as Fire Prevention Month. This is lower by 34.9 percent compared to 1,245 incidents during the same period last year.

In Metro Manila, fire incidents dropped by 59.8 percent from 306 to 123.

The number of deaths caused by fires went down from 31 to 12, a drop of 61.3 percent. Injuries also decreased by 11.1 percent from 72 to 64.

BFP spokesman Superintendent Annallee Carbajal-Atienza said most of the fires occurred in residential communities in urban areas.