Fire, Risk Mitigation, and Prevention

Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash

March is being observed in the Philippines as fire prevention month based on Proclamation No 115-A and Proclamation number 360 in 1986. It is perfect time to discuss about causes, hazards, and dangers of fire. 

Here are some short statistics from BFP, Bureau of Fire Protection:

• 15,545 average fire incidents every year
• 42 fire incidents every day
• 251 deaths every year due to fire incidents
• 848 fire related injuries every year
• P4.65 billion damages every year

To counter these incidents we have:

• 145 fire stations in 81 provinces across the country
• 1,113 activated fire stations for a total of 1,489 municipalities
• 813 fire brigades with a total of 4,525 volunteer firefighters in the entire NCR

According to BFP majority of fire incidents happens in residential areas which is a sad fact. Your home is not only a safe refuge for your family, it also represents your hard work, achievements and investments through the years. Seeing it all gone due to a fire incident is a very painful experience.

You can reduce your risk through property insurance. Aside from perils of fire these property insurance also covers:

• Lightning
• Typhoon and flood
• Earthquake, fire and shock
• Riot, strike and malicious damage
• Smoke damage
• Vehicle impact
• Falling aircraft
• Explosion

Of course prevention is always better.

To make sure that your family and house are safe, the BFP recommends these tips to avoid the occurrence of fire:

1.)  Unplug all electrical equipment when not in use and regularly check electrical equipment to avoid overloading of electrical circuits.

2.)  When using cooking gas, check for gas leaks and always ensure that the LPG tank is stored in a well-ventilated area to avoid the accumulation of gas vapors.

3.)  Enforce “No Smoking” policy inside or outside the house and dispose of cigarette butts properly.

4.)  Practice proper housekeeping and keep flammable materials out of reach of children. Flammable materials include candles, lighters, and matches, which should be kept properly and securely.

5.)  Plan ahead--establish an emergency and evacuation plan at home and familiarize with escape routes. And most importantly, keep flammables away from your children

6.)   In case of fire, close the door of the burning area to stop the spread of fire. As smoke rises up, breathe slowly, and get a piece of wet cloth to cover the nose and mouth to avoid suffocation.

7.)  When trapped in a fire hit area, it is highly recommended to go to a room with windows leading outdoors.

8.)  If clothes catch fire, do not run or panic, do the: “Stop, Drop, and Roll. “In this life-threatening situation, shout for help or wave a cloth outside the window to alert the people around you and keep in mind to remain calm.

9.)  The most important thing to do is to call 911, the nationwide emergency hotline number, and tell the emergency operator of your location right away.