BFP: 3.2K fire incidents recorded since Jan

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THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has recorded 3,202 fire incidents from January 1 to March 3 this year, up from 2,556 during the same period last year.

BFP spokeswoman Senior Supt. Annalee Carbajal Atienza said Metro Manila, Central Visayas and Calabarzon are the top three regions in terms of fire incidents this year.

In a radio interview, Atienza also said 1,351 of fires occurred in residential areas.

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Atienza said 70 died and 214 were injured in the fires so far recorded this year, compared to 45 dead and 177 injured during the same period last year.

The victims are mostly senior citizens and children, she said.

March is designated Fire Prevention Month in the Philippines.

Atienza said the leading cause of the fires this “is smoking or lighted cigarettes” but did not give figures.

This was followed by open flame from cooking and electrical ignition, she said.

“This is due to the lack of knowledge by the community, especially on smoking,” she said, noting that lighted cigarettes can cause fire if they get in contact with “dried materials.”

She urged smokers to be careful in disposing of cigarette butts, particularly by ensuring the butts are no longer lighted before they are disposed of.

Smokers should smoke only at designated areas, she added.

Atienza said lighted cigarettes will continue to be the top cause of fires if cigarette users will remain “undisciplined “ in disposing of cigarette butts.

“The same with the other top causes of fires,” she said.

On open flames from cooking, Atienza said people should not leave their stoves on when they leave their kitchen.

“If you are cooking and you need to answer your phone, turn off the stove or ask somebody to watch (what you are cooking),” she said.

 

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