In case of emergency, take a video?
No, says the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), as it reminded Lagunenses to call authorities first instead of taking live videos or selfies in cases of fire.
As the country once again celebrates National Fire Prevention Month, an official from the BFP – Calabarzon Fire Safety Enforcement Division pointed out that early calls of fire incidents to authorities will enable them to respond faster.
“We always remind the public to call their local fire stations before taking a video. We are in a democratic country, we are free to do this, however it would be more helpful if they called the fire stations first,” BFP Chief Insp. Nerissa Eugenia Panergalin said in a recent interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
She added that the urgent tip from the public will help fire responders and volunteers to be aware of the situation and immediately take action to extinguish the fire, save lives and find out its cause after the investigation.
Back to normal?
Meanwhile, Panergalin also noted a spike in the number of fire incidents as life went back to “normal” after the Covid-19 pandemic.
From January 1 to February 26, 2023 there were 271 reported fire cases in the region, but during the same period this year, it has since increased to 412 reported fire cases.
“We observed a noticeable decrease in fire statistics during the pandemic and post-pandemic period and perhaps the presence of people in their residences contributed to the decline in fire incidents. However, now that we have returned to our regular activities, it is disheartening to say that the statistics are gradually increasing again,” she noted.
The fire bureau has since launched the ‘Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan’ campaign to intensify their public awareness efforts and disseminate crucial information to the public regarding the significance of fire safety tips and to empower them with knowledge that can effectively prevent fire incidents.
In addition to this, BFP IV-A also established the Handang Pamayanan Program which actively involves the barangays in community fire protection planning sessions.
They also formed the Community Fire Auxiliary Group (CPAG), composed of barangay members trained to be the first responders to fire incidents under the guidance of the BFP.
Through this, they assess each barangay and determine fire hazards in their respective areas in order to ensure prompt response in the event of a fire incident in their area.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #BFP #BFPCALABARZON #CPAG #OplanLigtasnaPamayanancampaign