EDITORIAL - Preventing fires

Last week, a 10-hour fire damaged two floors of the Bureau of Customs in Manila’s Port Area. Two injuries were reported and damage to property was initially placed at P50 million. BOC officials have reassured the public that damaged documents have electronic copies and could be reconstructed. But the damage could aggravate the slow processing of shipments and add to congestion in the country’s principal port.

The incident at the BOC highlights the importance of fire prevention. In the weeks leading up to the start of March, Fire Prevention Month, a fire that swept through Maricaban in Pasay City killed nine members of a family living in one house. About two weeks later, another fire hit Maricaban, one of the most densely populated areas in Metro Manila.

Last year, 4,698 fires were recorded in Metro Manila alone, leaving death and destruction in their wake. Fire safety officials said most of the fires were due to electrical malfunctions. While fires strike any time of the year, a significant number occur during the dry summer months, when blazes can spread rapidly before being placed under control.

Fire safety officials periodically issue reminders to the public about measures that can prevent fires from breaking out. Checking old electrical wirings is important, although this is easier said than done. Certain electrical appliances need to be grounded. In this age of electrical gadgets, manufacturers have warned that battery chargers must be unplugged as soon as the charging is over.

Business establishments must be compelled to abide by fire safety regulations, for their own safety. The government must see to it that compliance is not made difficult by red tape, unfair requirements, corruption and harassment. There have been complaints about fire safety inspectors requiring business establishments to buy fire extinguishers from the inspectors’ favored suppliers before fire permits are issued.

People tend to take fire safety for granted. The message during Fire Prevention Month is that this attitude can have costly – and deadly – consequences.