The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has recorded 200 fire incidents nationwide over the past weeks.
Interviewed on DZRH Huntahan on Sunday, February 25, Senior Fire Officer 4 Ace Carolino from the BFP Public Information Office said most cases involved residential fires and grass fires or wildfires.
"Ayon sa datos, almost 200 na sunog ang nangyayari across the country [...] Kabilang na ang grass fires, hindi lang residential," he said.
Carolino said the total number of fire incidents may rise from March to May due to the temperature rise.
High temperature, according to the BFP official, causes high-powered appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners and electric fans to overheat and also triggers debris to burn.
Dried leaves, dried vegetative materials, and rubbish such as cigarette butts are said to be considered flammable debris.
SF04 Ace Carolina, BFP PIO, sa bilang ng sunog sa Pilipinas: Ayon sa datos, almost 200 na sunog ang nangyayari across the country. Kung susumahin natin, last year ay nagkaroon ng 16,000 fires nationwide.#Huntahan#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) February 25, 2024
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He stressed the importance of clean-ups and proper waste disposal to reduce the chances of fire hazards.
"Talagang malaking bagay ang maglinis ng kapaligiran, tanggalin ang flammable debris. Kasi hindi lang grass kundi mga basura ay nasusunog din," Carolino said.
Meanwhile, the BFP official mentioned that they do not have aerial assets yet to respond to a series of wildfires in the mountains.
He expressed hope that the BFP will be equipped with such capability as they transition to modernization in adherenace to the signed Republic Act 11589 or BFP Modernization Act.
"Hopefully, hindi pa natin masasabi, pero magkakaroon din tayo ng air asset para magkaroon ng mga capbility ang ating mga bumbero na magtambak ng tubig mula sa high aptiude hanggang sa nasusunog na bundok," Carolino said.
For the meantime, he said, the BFP will seek assistance from the Philippine Air Force that can conduct helicopter bucket or helibucket to suppress fires that broke out in the forest.
