Davao City fire district to celebrate Fire Prevention Month

The Davao City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be holding a series of activities in celebration of the Fire Prevention Month.

Observed every month of March by virtue of the 1986 Proclamation No. 115-A, this year’s Fire Prevention Month will have the theme: “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, ‘di ka Nag-iisa.”

Davao City Fire District Spokesperson SFO4 Ramil Gillado, during the AFP-PNP media forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, said this year’s observation of the Fire Prevention Month will resume its usual activities after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The activities, Gillado said, are aimed at educating people on the hazards that can cause fire incidents and the proper ways they can respond to these incidents.

“Fire prevention is everybody’s concern and everybody’s business. Dili ni siya (This is not the) sole responsibility of the Bureau of Fire Protection,” Gillado said.

“Dapat magsugod gyud ni siya sa mga individuals, labi na sa mga residentials, tungod kay tanan man gud ginatawag nato na ignition or heat source na possible magsugod og insidente sa sunog naa diha. Unya kita na indibidwal na naa sa balay mao’y dapat mag-observe sa safety aron dili ni mahitabo (This has to start with the individual, especially in residential areas, since all ignition or heat source that can possibly start a fire incident can be found there. And, we as residents must make sure this does not happen),” the Fire Marshall added.

The Fire Prevention Month will start with a kick off ceremony in SM Lanang on March 1. Followed by a roadshow on March 3 and 4 at the same venue.

The roadshow includes lectures on fire prevention, interactive demonstration on how to operate fire extinguishers and other equipment for fire incident response as well as basic training on first aid and proper chest compressions. Mall-goers can also try a basic rappelling course with BFP personnel.

Gillado said the roadshow will allow people to experience life and property-saving maneuver in case of a fire.

The same roadshow will be held at the Gaisano Mall on March 11 and SM Lanang on March 18.

On March 23-24, the BFP will be hosting a city-wide Fire Olympics. The first day of the sports event will see barangay responders, industrial first responders, and volunteers showcase their ability to respond in emergency situations in a friendly competition.

BFP’s own firefighters will be competing the next day (March 24). Firefighters from the 15 fire stations in the city will be divided into four groups to compete with each other to exhibit their abilities and skills while honing their teamwork and camaraderie, said Gillado.

The culmination program for the celebration will take place at the BFP Regional Office XI on March 31.

Gillado said there have been an observable decrease in the number of fire incidence this year compared to last year’s. He credited this trend to the bureau’s enhanced fire prevention campaigns in the communities.

In January 2022, the BFP recorded 45 fire incidents. This number was reduced to 38 in the same month this year. CIO