LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Ilocos Norte plans to increase their fire safety awareness campaigns following an increased number of fire-related incidents for the year 2022.

According to Chief Inspector Claire Simbol, officer-in-charge of the BFP Provincial Office, they logged a total of 145 fire-related incidents for the year 2022, higher than the 125 fire-related incidents recorded last 2021.

“’Yong isang nakikita naming rason kung bakit tumaas ay dahil dumalas na naman ang paglabas ng mga tao, compared to last 2021 na mas limited tayo dahil sa pandemic. Minsan sa pagmamadali nilang lumabas ng bahay, may nakakalimutan silang patayin na appliances,” Simbol said.

To reduce fire incidents for this year, the BFP-Ilocos Norte will be increasing their implementation of community-based training programs and information campaigns for residents to help with fire prevention.

The fire chief said they are urging more barangays to create their own Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAG) to help with fire emergencies, especially in far-flung communities.

In the CFAG program, BFP personnel will train village officials and residents in fire safety, especially with extinguishing fires.

The provincial BFP will also strengthen their KAISA: Call-to-Action against Destructive Fire Campaign, which aims to gain the cooperation of local businesses, private establishments, and other stakeholders against destructive fires through self-imposed fire safety awareness activities and initiatives like conducting fire drills, seminars, and other training in their companies.

Simbol reported that they’ve already established their KAISA partners with some of the major businesses like malls, call centers, some schools, and private establishments in the province.

For this year, they plan to coordinate with more schools and business establishments to be KAISA partners to ensure fire safety for students, teachers, employees, and customers.

Moreover, in 2022, the BFP received additional equipment for the province.

Seven firetrucks were given to the provincial office, while two fire trucks were donated by the City Government of Batac, and one new fire truck was donated by the local government unit of Bacarra to their respective BFP offices.

BFP-Laoag City also received two new ambulances from the BFP national headquarters. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)