BACOLOD City – There are 120 fire-prone areas in Bacolod City, based on the latest hazard mapping by the city’s Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
In a radio interview yesterday morning, BFP-Bacolod City fire marshal Chief Insp. Stephen Jardeleza revealed that of the 61 barangays in the city, 37 were “red zones”.
Jardeleza, however, said the number of fire prone areas could increase as areas with informal settlers they were monitoring had widened.
To reduce fire incidents, Jardeleza said villages should actively participate in the BFP’s “Oplan Ligtas Pamayanan” program.
Under the program, villages can give a more accurate hazard mapping of their area, and perform community drills to improve response times in case of a fire emergency.
House to house surveys can also help reduce fire incidents in the community.
Over the weekend, at least 38 homes were destroyed while two others were damaged by a fire at a residential area in Bacolod City’s Barangay 7.
No one was hurt but the fire displaced 66 families or 331 individuals.
Property damage was pegged at P195,000.
The fire was believed to have been caused by an unattended butane gas stove. (Watchmen Daily Journal)
