Make fire safety a lifestyle- BFP reminds public
"Make fire safety a lifestyle," suggests Chief Inspector Rommel B. Gomez of the Bureau of Fire Protection, Region VI to remind the public that fire can bring damage to human lives and properties if one is not careful, and that everyone must observe fire prevention all year round.
As the nation observes Fire Prevention month this March, C/Insp Gomez said that "we should realize that everyday P11 Million go up in smoke because of fire, while for the whole year we are losing P4 billion because of fire. The amount is even bigger if we consider the profit loss and other business opportunities' lost, not to mention the loss of lives of other people and the trauma that the fire victims may suffer for the loss of their loved ones".
C/Insp Gomez was PIA-CATV program guest with Inspector Marlo Arreza of BFP; Jose Ma. "Jing" Bacaling, OIC of the Iloilo Citizen Action Group; Boy Tan and Jess Sio, both ground commanders of the Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade. They declared each others commitment to work hand in hand for the protection of lives and property through increased awareness on fire prevention.
This year's theme is "Pamayanan Sama-sama Laban sa Sunog", C/Insp Gomez said.
He said that fire damage to properties in year 2005 was recorded at P219,710,999.50 in the entire Visayas. The record showed that Aklan had P71,219,900.00; Antique- P5,430,399.50; Capiz- P9,718,650.00; Guimaras- P31,078,790.00; Iloilo- P42,848,150.00; Negros Occidental- P59,415,110.00.
Listed by the Bureau of Fire Protection as the common causes of fire are: electrical flammable liquids, stoves/LPG tank, cigarettes butts/matches, open flames, combustion/heat/bonfire, sparks/explosives.
C/Insp Gomez said that "the lack of necessary equipment in fire fighting is not a hindrance to the government and non-government fire-fighting volunteer groups here in saving lives and properties, but we hope and seek better fire fighting equipments".
In the entire Western Visayas the Bureau of Fire Protection has 95 fire trucks distributed to 77 fire stations with a total of only 1,001 firemen, he said.
He also urged the public to be very careful at all times and in case of fire, one should immediately call on concerned fire fighting institutions in the area.
(T.Villavert/PIA)