THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) went on round-the-clock full-alert to respond to fires that are expected to break out especially this fire season.
With 18 fire engines, 13 water tankers and trained firefighters nationwide, the PRC is fully equipped to respond to any fire emergencies.
“The Philippine Red Cross is the only national society among the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement with a fire department that allows us to immediately respond to fire incidents,” PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon said.
Aside from firefighting, PRC is the only Red Cross national society in the world that responds to urban search and rescue, Gordon added.
Traditionally the season of fires in the Philippines, March has been declared as Fire Prevention Month. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), there have been 23 fire incidents nationwide from March 1 to 3 alone, including the recent fire that gutted a residential area at Parola Compound in Tondo, Manila.
Since January the BFP reported a total of 2,277 fire incidents nationwide, which resulted in damage amounting to P489,347,221.
Since the start of 2015, 62 individuals have perished in fires across the country, while 161 civilians and 21 BFP personnel suffered fire-related injuries.
“Since the start of the year the PRC has already responded to 32 fires all over Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. Our fire response teams are usually partnered with emergency medical teams when responding to fire incidents to better provide assistance to individuals affected,” said Gwendolyn Pang, PRC secretary-general.
Pang added that apart from fire and medic response, the PRC also provides other assistance in communities affected by fire, such as provision of hot meals, food and nonfood items, to displaced families in evacuation centers and psycho-social support.
The PRC has been responding to fire emergencies since 2009 when the Japanese government donated 12 fire engines to the PRC.
Fire prevention
Fire prevention is still the key to avoiding fire incidents according to the BFP. This year’s Fire Month theme, “Kaligtasan sa Sunog, Alamin, Gawin, at Isabuhay Natin,” reflects the BFP’s commitment to let the public know of the importance of fire prevention.
Like the BFP, the PRC also puts prevention topmost in its campaign to reduce the risks in case of a fire. Here are some tips from the PRC on how to reduce risks at homes:
- Eliminate fire hazards through good housekeeping;
- Keep matches out of children’s reach;
- Lighted candles and oil or gas lamps should be placed away from curtains or flammable materials;
- Put out flames before going to bed;
- Never leave a lighted cigarette unattended;
- Do not keep flammable materials, like gasoline, kerosene, alcohol and paint inside the house;
- Regularly check electrical installations and have all threadbare wirings and electrical equipment changed or repaired by license electrician; and
- Make sure there is no gas leak inside your house. If you smell gas, do not light a candle or matchsticks and immediately open all doors and window to allow gas air to escape.
Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco