CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Calapan City targets to organize fire-brigades in far-flung areas in the city through “Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan.”
Fire Officer 1 Prince Lester De Guzman of BFP Calapan Public Information Service said they will prioritize to educate on fire prevention measures not only the urban communities but also those in distant areas in the city.
De Guzman added that far-flung areas in the city are the fire department’s focus of the Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan program since fire response times will be longer for those areas compared to areas that are closer to them.
“Sila ang focus namin sa ating mga nilalakad na programa kasi nga po dahil nga sila ang malalayo [ay] mas magiging matagal ang fire responses natin papunta dun sa fire incidents. So if ever kung ganun kalayo at hindi agad nila mama-manage ay mas malaki na ang apoy or baka halos tupok na yung establishments pagdating namin” De Guzman said.
He said that they are doing fire prevention advocacy through barangay forum, as well as train barangay fire volunteers to act as first responders during fire incidents in villages.
He added that with the summer season, forest areas are vulnerable to grass fires, thus, the public must be aware of how to prevent the occurrence of fire in those areas.
“Kapag ganoong areas kasi lalo na yung may mga gubat o kaya ay may malalalim na damuhan ay grass fires ang posibleng maging cause,” he said, noting that based on their record, the past forest fires occurred in the areas of Lazareto, Suqui, Navotas, and Nag-iba.
He said that strong winds can also be a big factor for the fast widespread of grass fires.
Meanwhile, De Guzman called on the residents to be responsible when burning waste as it remains a leading cause of grass fires.
“Nagiging problema na lang talaga natin kapag ganoong areas lalo na yung may mga gubatan o kaya ay may malalawak na damuhan ay grass fires, kasi sa totoong buhay talaga ang mga Pinoy ay hindi pa natatanggal yung mga 4 o’clock habit natin na sa hapon magsisiga ng apoy…kung hindi pa rin po natin siya maiiwasan ay hangga’t maaari ay maging responsable tayo,” De Guzman said.
Records show that in 2023, a total of 13 fire incidents were recorded in the city, while eight fire incidents were recorded last year, of which five were houses and three were business establishments. In the first quarter this year, there were already three fire incidents, he said. (AN/PIA MIMAROPA OJT-Oriental Mindoro)
