Fire marshal advises public to be vigilant

CEBU, Philippines - To prevent fires, especially during this time of the year, Talisay City Fire Marshal Felipe Canillas is appealing to the public to check their electrical connections and to be observant when children are playing, among other things.

Canillas, in an interview with the media, said that for the past years, “faulty electrical wiring” has been considered as the number one cause of fires” in Talisay City.

For this reason, Canillas said that as part of the celebration of fire prevention, fire safety inspections will be conducted, which will center on electrical wiring of houses in the city.

The fire marshal said that last year alone, majority of the 12 recorded fire incidents were blamed on faulty electrical wiring. In 2009, the total damage to property caused by fires reached P1.6 million.

And while there was no fire incident recorded in the first quarter of last year, this year, already two fires in the city have already occurred, one being at the Isla Verde in February 2 and another in February 13 in Cantonville, barangay San Isidro, which destroyed P400,000 worth of property.

The fire in sitio Isla Verde, barangay San Isidro, which damaged P800,000 worth of property, left 30 families homeless, was however not caused by erroneous electrical connection, but by children who were playing with matches.

Canillas said children should not be left alone on their own, as they have the tendency to play with anything including highly flammable materials. And the fire once it has been started could easily spread out because of the dry season, he said.

Meanwhile, Canillas said he is hoping to get a water tanker fire truck for Talisay City.

He said the four existing trucks are not enough. The city should have at least six, as said.

The water tanker truck, he said, holds 3,000-4,000 gallons of water, which is equivalent to four fire trucks, thereby allowing firefighters to combat the blaze continuously, without having to pull out from the scene to have the tanks refilled.

Canillas also said that with the coming dry months, grass fires are expected, as what happened in barangay Pooc the other day.

He said the public, especially those living in the upland areas, should refrain from burning trash near grassy areas. – Liv G. Campo   (FREEMAN NEWS)