Deadly forest fires

EDITORIAL

Thousands of lives and billions worth of property are lost every year because of seemingly inescapable forest and domestic fires, often caused by negligence and sheer apathy of its consequences.

Last week in Itogon, Benguet, five persons were burned to death in a forest fire allegedly started by a farmer who wanted to clear an area for a kaingin.

In Tadian, Mountain Province, an 80-year-old man was also burned to death due to fire while Sagada, also in the province, is now suffering water shortage in the Poblacion since forest fires burned waterlines to the tourist town

The Cordillera continues to experience disastrous forest fires as in other parts of the country. The Philippines remains washed up in fighting fire, if not preventing it from happening.

Firefighting is very risky business. But Filipino firefighters are among the bravest in battling blazes. Despite lacking in firefighting equipment, they are known to charge toward burning buildings while others scamper for safety.                       Sometimes, firefighters themselves are seriously injured, or killed, while doing their jobs. This seldom happens, thanks to proper training.

The Bureau of Fire Protection, the primary agency responsible for fire prevention and fighting fire, is one of the most undermanned government agencies created for the gargantuan task of preventing fire, if not fighting fires when they do happen.

BFP officials say annual government appropriations also fall beyond what can be described as “desirable.” But lately, salaries of BFP personnel have been upped.

The BFP is doubly short also of firefighters. With the ideal ratio of one firefighter per 2,000 people or population. The BFP is also short of all-important fire trucks and other firefighting equipment.

With its current population running up to 100 million, the Philippines needs at least 50,000 personnel doing actual firefighting on the field. Hence, the actual number of firefighters is short by more than 100 percent.

Moreover, considering the vastness of the territory that requires firefighting, the BFP is short of fire stations, fire trucks, fire hoses, nozzles and breathing apparatus that could boost or enhance the BFP’s fire-fighting capability, basing from the BFP itself.

BFP officials say very city and municipality should have one fire truck.

As mandated by law, there should be one fire truck per city and municipality. The ideal ratio is one fire truck for every 28,000 persons.

Every fire truck should also have 14 firefighters, according to the BFP. BFP records bare for the 1,489 municipalities across the 17 regions in the Philippines, there are only 1,113 activated fire stations for a total of 1,489 municipalities.

This leaves a total of 376 municipalities without activated fire stations.

Of the 1,113 fire stations, 597 are owned by the BFP while 516 are owned by the LGUs, private individuals or institutions or other agencies.

BFP records say some municipalities still have no fire stations of their own as the BFP has no land to construct the station. The BFP is reportedly not allowed to purchase land for such purpose.

Because of that, she said the BFP relies on the generosity of the LGUs to donate the land where a fire station can be constructed.

Many fire stations in cities and municipalities continue to exist because the buildings are owned and maintained by LGUs, private individuals or institutions or other government agencies.

March was designated as Fire Prevention Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 115-A s. 1966 signed on November 17, 1966, by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, who cited an increase in fire incidents happening across the country during this month.

It is during the month that the most number of fires occurs.

More than half a century or 52 years later, has the Philippines learned its lessons? Not quite. There are still deadly fires which could have been prevented like the Itogon incident.

According to the BFP, the top three causes of fires are electrical connection, lighted cigarette butt and open flame.

Fire originating from electrical connections may either be triggered by electrical overload, electrical arc or electrical short circuit.

Lighted cigarette butts that caused fires are those usually indiscriminately thrown away by cigarette smokers, accidentally touching flammable material that starts a fire.

Fires caused by open flames can either be triggered by torch, candle or burning gas stove left unattended.

The top three fire occurrences recorded hit residential areas, industrial and mercantile or commercial buildings.

BFP officials say people need to learn to be aware and conscious of the consequences of negligence that may lead to a disastrous fire.

Fire incidents could be avoided, they say, if only people will be more cautious of the things they do.

For instance, indiscriminately throwing a lighted cigarette butt, sleeping and leaving a lighted candle or forgetting to turn off a gas stove after cooking are the most common causes of fires.

To make saving lives and properties more efficient, the BFP says  prevention is the only way.