Daraga gears for zero fire incident in 2013

DARAGA, Albay, Feb. 9 (PNA) -- The 26-man strong Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) office has been conducting an all-out campaign since January disseminating information and honing skills how to prevent fire incidents aimed at attaining zero fire incident for 2013. The town remained undermanned but has gradually veered away from being tagged as the most fire-ridden province in Bicol region in 2007 because of its relentless information dissemination and disaster risk reduction management (DRRM) program. BFP records showed that before 2008, an average of 20 fire incidents per year occurred in this town.The number was reduced to seven fire incidents recorded in 2012 and some of them were considered as non-index conflagrations or fire of lesser magnitude. “Our prevention and mitigation campaigns are done regularly and we have widen our reach even the far-flung barangays,” said town fire marshal Fire Senior Insp. Alvaro Macasinag. Daraga downtown is considered a university belt hosting five college campuses of the Bicol University and a number of private tertiary and secondary schools, is lined with boarding and lodging houses. Boarding house owners, however, are not registered establishments preventing the BFP to conduct site inspection and monitor fire safety. "In 2006, only six boarding houses were issued business permits. Ironically, most of the fire incidents that occurred that year were from residential houses admitting student boarders," Macasinag said. "Following our massive information drive and coordination with barangay councils, and n collaboration with the municipal health and permits and licensing departments, monitoring of boarding houses have been set in place and compliance to requirements has been strictly imposed," he added. Last year, a total of 28 boarding houses were issued business permits and as of the first week of February, 23 boarding houses were issued with permits. The BFP is optimistic to achieve zero fire incident status this year despite its lack of personnel and firefighting gadgets. Daraga has only two operational fire trucks, both without boom and water cannon accessory and does not have enough supply of gas masks and other breathing apparatus, no supply of bolt and metal cutters and chain saws. “Our inter-operability with other fire departments in Albay province and adjacent areas, along with volunteer firefighters from big establishments and businessmen organizations that are better equipped enable us to response and mitigate fire disasters,” he said. There are, however, enough fire hoses and connector accessories and all firefighters are equipped with fire jackets, boots and helmets. “It’s simply effective management of human resources and combined firefighting assets from us and other support BFP and volunteer fighters during incidents of fire. We take the ground command and disposal of all assets combined then work as one in putting out the fire,” Macasinag said. (PNA)