FIRE INCIDENTS. Senior Inspector John Michael Valmores (right), spokesperson of the Bureau of Fire Protection 10 (Northern Mindanao), answers queries from the press in Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday (Dec. 6, 2023). BFP-10 records show that there were slightly fewer fire incidents in 2023 than in 2022, and the value of fire damage is also less this year. (PNA photo by Ercel Maandig)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The number of fire incidents in the Northern Mindanao region decreased to 193 from January to September from 198 cases in the same period last year, the regional office of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said on Wednesday.
In a press briefing, Senior Inspector John Michael Valmores, spokesperson of BFP 10 (Northern Mindanao), said the value of damage from the fire incidents was also significantly less.
"It has drastically dropped from PHP69 million in 2022 to only PHP29 million this year," he said, adding that investigation showed that most of the cases resulted from the use of substandard materials in both households and some commercial buildings.
Valmores also warned of high fire risk during the holidays due to cheap and substandard light decorations.
Last month, the BFP-10 conducted 1,000 firefighting and earthquake drills within the region – 300 times in schools and 700 times in private entities.
Valmores said BFP-10 conducts thrice-weekly firefighting training sessions for barangay fire volunteers.
This month, the agency is conducting "Oplan Paalala, Iwas Paputok" as part of its campaign for a safe holiday season. (PNA)
