EDITORIAL - Fire prevention

As the country once again observes the Fire Prevention Month, authorities are back to reminding the public about the need to prevent fires as the summer begins to take over. In Cebu, for example, fire department personnel are again busy disseminating fire safety tips.

The dry season starts this month and cases of fire incidents across the country are expected to increase as the temperature goes up. That is why, for decades, it has become a ritual for the fire department to declare March as the time for the public to be reminded about fire prevention.

However, as we all know, a fire knows no time to erupt. It can occur anytime and can be deadly, especially if it sweeps through populated areas. In fact, last year, many were killed during fire incidents across the province.

So, it's not only during March that we really need to be reminded to take measures against fires. Vigilance should be a daily habit because some fire incidents do come like a thief in the night.

Besides, the public should not leave the task of preventing fires to the authorities alone. It has a very vital role to play. The first line of defense should be with the people themselves.

For instance, it is very important for communities to be equipped with fire fighting capabilities so they would know how to combat a fire in case there is a delay in the response from authorities.

Let's admit that the fire department is still poorly equipped. Our firefighters still have a hard time penetrating interior areas or clambering up high rise buildings during a fire for lack of modern equipment.

Given this situation, it is necessary for the public to learn the basics in fire prevention.