LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Ilocos Norte provincial office is set to increase their fire prevention campaigns for the second quarter of 2023, after recording an increased number of fire incidents in the province during the first quarter.
 
For the months of January to March, the BFP recorded a total of 99 fire incidents; 30 of these are structural fires, 68 are non-structural fires, and one vehicular fire incident.
 
The 99 fire incidents accumulated a total of P16,267,390-worth of damages, based on the submitted affidavit of loss of the victims.
 
According to CINSP Claire Simbol, acting fire marshal of BFP Ilocos Norte, the causes of these fire incidents are open flame from rubbish fire, smoking, ignition of materials from ember, open flame in farmlands, electrical ignition caused by loose connection, open flame from cooking, fireworks, arcing, overheated home appliances, and open flame from kaingin ang kerosene lamps.
 
This year’s number of fire incidents rose to 136% compared to the same quarter last 2022 which only recorded a total of 42 fire incidents.
 
According to Simbol, the biggest reason for the fire incidents is the open flame from rubbish fires which escalated to structural fire on residential houses, commercial buildings, and storage units. 
 
“Although significant ang pagtaas ng fire incidents this first quarter, most of these fires naman ay with minimal damages because maliit lamang ang sunog and the BFP was able to respond to them early, kaya hindi na nag-spread and sunog,” Simbol said.
 
To decrease the number of fire incidents for the rest of the year, the fire marshal said the BFP will increase their fire prevention and safety campaigns to barangays, schools, business establishments, and offices by conducting trainings and seminars to teach residents how to prevent and extinguish fires, as well as the proper protocol when involved in a fire incident. 
 
The BFP also plans to create more KAISA: Call-to-Action against Destructive Fire Campaign partners, especially with big business establishments in the province like grocery stores, markets, and some schools.
 
Simbol also encouraged more barangays in the province, especially the far-flung villages, to create their own Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAG) to respond to fire emergencies in their community.
 
In the CFAG program, BFP personnel will train village officials how to extinguish fires properly and safely.
 
The fire chief hopes that with the increased efforts to promote fire prevention, the number of fire incidents will be lowered in the province by the second quarter of the year. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)