CEBU, Philippines - Even with the rains, Talisay City Fire Marshal Felipe Canillas still urged the public yesterday to be mindful of electrical wiring.
It always helps to always check the wiring, which is the common cause of fire, and to make sure to always unplug the appliances that are not in use," said Canillas, in an interview with the media during the opening ceremony of the Fire Prevention Month yesterday.
Canillas said the fire last January 15 in Valley View Village, barangay Mohon, happened during heavy rains. The cause of the fire was electrical short circuit, he said.
He reminded the public to always monitor their electrical wiring, and not to settle for substandard electrical materials or appliances which could easily explode once they overheat.
Electrical short circuit was also cited as the cause of all four fires in the city for the first quarter.
This record is higher than last year's first three months, which only has three cases.
Last year's damage to property was however higher by P800,000 than this year's P1.3 million.
Canillas said the Isla Verde Fire (February 2, 2010) was the biggest with P800,000 in estimated damage to property.
In 2010, the city recorded 11 fires – with varied reasons which range from playing with matches, unattended electric fan and short circuit – totaling P3.3 million.
The fire marshal said for this year they hope to reduce that number by giving information to barangays on disaster risk reduction management (DRRM).
The fire department has scheduled DRRM seminars for the whole month of March to all of the city's 22 barangays.
Canillas said barangay health workers and tanods will also undergo emergency preparedness training seminars on the last week of the month-long celebration. — (FREEMAN)