Firefighter from local Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) contains forest fire in South Drive, Baguio City on February 21.
A total of 11 bushfires and nine forest fires ravaged different parts of Baguio City in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Baguio Fire Department (BFD).
Some recorded fires occurred at Camp 7, Dontogan, Loakan, South Drive, Bakakeng and other parts of the city.
Senior Fire Officer (SFO) 1 Lloyd Ashley Furigay said the main causes of fire breakouts in the city are burning garbage and dry leaves, cigarette butts, playing with lighters and match sticks, and bonfires.
BFD also reported that Baguio City logged 28 fire-related incidents during the first three months of the year. This record was almost half the total number of fire-related incidents in the city compared to last year’s 61.
According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Cordillera Administrative Region (DENR – CAR) Environment Specialist II Alaska Turatay, there were already 795.05 hectares damaged due to forest fires, including 166.42 hectares of natural forest and 622.23 hectares of plantation area for the first two months of the year in the whole region.
Despite the incidents from January to March, BFD continues to strengthen its campaign in promoting fire safety in the city, such as organizing fire safety seminars, conducting fire safety inspections in establishments, and making the greater public more aware of fire safety through radio guesting.
“We also have a program called the community auxiliary group, it is made up of barangay officials that we train to be our partners in case of fire and if there is an unexpected event," Furigay said.
He reminded the public to avoid octopus wiring, always check the electrical system of their homes, pull out appliances when not in use, and avoid leaving cooking food unattended.
The Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CRDRRMC) also revived its inter-agency task group (IATG), chaired by the DENR and co-chaired by the fire bureau, for the reduction of fire incidents and the possible effects of El Niño.
CRDRRMC Chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Albert Mogol reminded the importance of a more proactive actions in fire safety and prevention.
“Napapanahon muli na ating pag-usapan ng maigi ang mga isyu patungkol sa fire incidents at pag-aralan din ang posibleng El Niño ngayong taon. Kailangan pa nating maging mas ‘pro-active at konektado upang matulungan natin ang bawat isa at ang ating mga kababayan dito sa Kordilyera,” Mogol said.
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