EDITORIAL — ‘Tis always the season for fires

It hasn’t been a kind December for many of us.

Last December 4, Sitio Sugarlandia in Barangay Bacayan, Cebu City, was hit by a fire that destroyed nine houses and left 71 people homeless. After too much water came a lot of fire; that same place was one of the worst affected by Typhoon Tino recently.

Last December 9, another fire hit a residential area in Sitio All Seasons 3, Barangay Cogon-Pardo, Cebu City. It destroyed 51 houses and damaged 23 others. A total of 87 families were affected.

Just a day later, a fire also hit a styrofoam warehouse in a three-story commercial building in Sitio Santo Niño, Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City.

It also became a hit after employee Ei Mei Lee Maningo was filmed dropping two dogs from the third floor of the building into the waiting arms of people below. She escaped using a ladder just as the floor above her became completely engulfed in flames.

On an aside, we salute her actions and courage; her dedication to her animal companions shows what kind of pet owner she is.

Back to the topic on hand; fires. We should never let our guard down when it comes to fires.

Because it is Christmas season, we tend to get sidetracked by so many things we want to do and so many things that need to be prepared. We are talking about getting gifts, preparing for gatherings with family and friends, making sure our loved ones get the best of what we can give them, making sure we don’t go over budget, etc.

Fire safety is probably the farthest thing from our minds during this time when many things demand our attention.

But we do so at our own risk. While Christmas is seasonal, fires aren’t. While Christmas only comes once a year, fires are all-year round. ‘Tis always the season for fires and not just March, the still-designated fire-prevention month.

Even as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let’s always be on the lookout for what can cause fires and be ready to react to them. Nothing is sadder than being homeless or losing everything you worked hard for during what’s supposed to be the happiest time of year.