Holy smokes! This article is old news. The month of March has already passed and I’m still writing this piece (Disclaimer: This is not another case of those ”April Fool’s jokes”). After all, seeing all your hard-earned properties turned into ashes is not a laughing matter. At this time, Filipinos are busy pondering on how they will enjoy this hot summer (which is understandable for those work horses out there). But what if you returned from a vacation and all left from your properties are just debris?
A fire needs no advertisement. It’s the people that need to be educated about fire prevention and things to do in case of emergencies.
P.A.N.I.C. (Pressured And Not In Control)
According to Presidential Proclamation No. 115–A, the month of March was declared to be the official month of Fire Prevention. It is also promoted to provide education and awareness to lessen the prevalence of fire in the Philippines.
During summer, such cases occur in densely populated communities mostly living in shanties. Also, even solid concrete structures are not spared. One of the deadliest fires occurred in concrete buildings with faulty electrical wiring and no fire exits. Therefore, fire prevention and effective response are very important especially during summer.
Today is the best time to ensure compliance with fire safety standards. Accidents can happen anytime, and fires can be sparked by bizarre conditions. But preventive measures can minimize accident risks.
Reloaded
Firefighters are one of the people in the government that I admire. They literally put their lives in danger whenever they extinguish fires and do rescue operations. When they joined the department, they face the fact their life is always in danger. When a man becomes a fireman, his greatest act of bravery has been accomplished. Firefighters do not regard themselves as heroes because they are just doing their duties which are putting the fire out and saving lives.
Also, we rarely see or hear any negative news towards them unlike their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP). The customary news linked to Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is their lack of fire trucks and firefighting equipment. I can sincerely vouch for this since I live
a block away from the fire
station.
To fulfill this need, BFP obtained 38 brand new fire trucks month ago and an additional 38 are expected soon. This is a timely improvement to the BFP’s firefighting capability, which is so lacking in fire trucks.
And Knowing is Half the Battle
Instead of defacing BFP’s website, why not put your effort in spreading awareness?
BFP provided tips to the public to prevent fire incidents. If these tips will be observed, fire incidents would be reduced and lives and properties will be saved.
Among the tips are the following:
- Unplug appliances after every use.
- Switch off the electric stove or gas range before going to bed.
- Don’t overload electrical circuits with too many appliances and inspect electrical wires, which could cause overheating and overloading.
- Do not keep flammable materials like gasoline inside the house.
- Regularly clean the house and remove items (e. g. dried leaves) that can act as “fire fuel”. These “fire fuel” together with oxygen might ignite during the summer heat.
- Restrain children from playing with combustible items such as matches inside the house.
- Practice an escape plan from every room in the house.
- If you have a budget, buy at least one smoke alarm, fire safety sprinklers and fire extinguisher. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
In case of fire, the public should call the hotline 117 or BFP-NCR emergency hotlines 723-1642 or 729-5166. In other emergencies, you should know who you gonna call.
March is Fire Prevention Month but it doesn’t mean that we should only be vigilant during this season. Instead, we should always be alert of any unforeseen disaster every time. Being prepared is always better than any reactive measures.
