ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 31, 2013) – The Bureau of Fire has urged the public to turn off their cooking gas and electricity when not in use following an increase in fire-related incidents in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.
The local fire marshal, Superintendent Dominador Zabala said BFP noted a 68% increased in the number of fire incidents from January to July compared to the same period last year.
He said there is a need for the public to be educated on how to prevent accidental fire. “I must admit that fire incidents had increased compared to last year and this is the very reason why all proactive measures are now in place in a bid to avert fires in the future,” he told the Mindanao Examiner.
Zabala said the damage to properties due to fire from the January to July also soared to P11. 9 million – with 38 structures destroyed – compared to P4.8 million for the similar period in 2012, a staggering 149% increase.
He said electrical fire topped the most number of incidents in the villages and followed by bonfires and open flames, including sparks, gas leak, lightning and arson. And most of these, Zabala said, were largely due to negligence and accidents, although there were two cases of arson. (Jun Feliciano)
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