EDITORIAL - Preventing another threat

A parade of fire trucks last Sunday kicked off this year’s observance of Fire Prevention Month. With the more infectious COVID variant from South Africa now in the Philippines, and the variant that first emerged in the UK continuing its spread particularly in Pasay City and the Cordilleras, it may be difficult to focus on fire prevention protocols.

The threat of fires, however, cannot be ignored, especially with the approach of summer when fire incidence typically spikes in this country. Last month in Metro Manila alone, fires killed a female employee at a warehouse in Las Piñas; rendered 20 families homeless in Tambo, Parañaque; killed a five-year-old girl and injured her parents and two siblings at their home in Poblacion, Makati; and killed five members of a household, four of them young boys, and razed at least 300 homes, displacing 600 families at the Parola compound in Tondo, Manila.

As the parade of fire trucks showed, the country’s firefighting capability is being boosted with more equipment acquired by the government as well as contributions from the private sector. Several local government units have procured fire trucks small enough to enter narrow streets that are still typical all over the country including densely populated urban centers such as Metro Manila.

The country has experienced horrific fires in the past decades, with conflagrations hitting industrial establishments as well as slums and expensive homes alike in crowded Metro Manila. And yet many areas still suffer from poor access to timely and effective firefighting response. Enforcement of fire safety standards also remains spotty, and hobbled by lack of personnel and resources.

People themselves are at the vanguard of fire prevention, starting in their own households. There is no lack of reminders for fire safety: don’t leave lighted candles unattended; switch off cooking gas tanks when not in use; make sure cigarette stubs are no longer burning when discarded; be mindful of signs of deterioration in electrical wiring or outlets as well as gadgets and appliances.

Too many lives have been lost and billions worth of property destroyed by fires all over the country. Most of the fire safety measures are practical and easy to implement. Even if they cause certain inconveniences, it would be a small price to pay for saving lives and property.