SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- To mark Fire Prevention Month, the local unit of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) continues to conduct fire safety awareness seminars in the municipality of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

The BFP recently conducted a Fire Safety Seminar and a Fire Drill in San Jose Town Mall, which were attended by around 200 individuals.

Senior Fire Officer Norly Santos gave a lecture on basic fire science, which tackles the different kinds of fire ranging from classes A, B, C, D, and K. 

Santos explained that knowing different classes of fire can significantly increase a person’s ability to deal with fire incidents.

Class A fire involves ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, or plastic. Santos taught that this is the only type of fire that can be easily extinguished using water.

Class B are liquid combustibles. This happens when a fire consumes flammable liquids as combustibles such as gasoline.

“Kapag liquid combustibles, hindi natin pwedeng sasabuyan ng tubig ‘yan kasi mas lalong lalaki. Tandaan po natin na oil and water don’t mix…mas dense ang tubig that’s why kapag sinabuyan natin ‘yan ng tubig mas lalong lalaki ang apoy [kasi] hindi niya maa-absorb ang tubig,” Santos said.

[When it's liquid combustibles, we cannot splash it with water because it will expand more. Let's remember that oil and water don't mix...water is denser that's why when we splash water on it, the fire will grow bigger [because] it can't absorb the water.]

When a fire involves energized electrical equipment, this falls under the fire classification C. Santos reiterated that using water to put out a fire involving electricity will cause electrocution. 

Class D are fires that involve burning metals. These release hazardous fumes that can cause burns in the airway when inhaled, causing difficulty in breathing.

Lastly, Class K or Kitchen or grease fire are incidents where oils used for cooking create fire.

“Hindi rin po basta-basta ‘yan dahil kapag sinabuyan mo [ng tubig], mas lalo ring lalaki,” explained Santos.

[These could not be put out by water as it will spread more.] 

In addition, the fire officers demonstrated administering first-aid and conducted actual evacuation and rescue operations. 

Eliza Joy Moli, a security guard at San Jose Town Mall shared that the training helped her become fire-ready,

“Nagustuhan ko yung part na [tinuruan kami sa] pagpatay ng fire…marami po kaming natutunan kung paano [ang gagawin] kapag may sugat ‘yong victims. Malaking tulong po in case na may fire, mayroon kaming kaalaman kung paano mase-secure ang [buhay] ng mga tao,” she explained.

[I liked the part where we were taught how to extinguish fire. We learned a lot about how to tend to wounded victims. This is a huge help in case of fire, as this provides us knowledge on how we can save people’s lives.]

Information dissemination is part of the BFP’s Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, which focuses on fire prevention efforts and fire education. The Fire Safety Seminar and Drill is also tied to the celebration of Fire Prevention Month this March. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)