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Records at the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reveal that from 2001 to 2005, a total of 46,719 fires were recorded nationwide or an average of 26 reported incidents daily.

From 7,213 fires recorded in 2001, the number of reported incidents increased to 10,728 (Figure 1). While fire incidents increased, the number of firemen decreased gradually during the same period. This resulted in a slight increase in the number of fires per fireman from less than 1.0 in 2001-2002 to 1.1 in 2003-2004 to 1.2 in 2005 (Figure 2). But while the number of fires increased, the estimated amount of damages decreased from P6.1 billion in 2001 to P3.3 billion in 2005. Consequently, the average amount of damages per fire also decreased from P0.9 million to P0.3 million.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Based on BFP planning standards, there should be one fireman for every 2,000 population. Table 1 shows that we need to increase the number of new firemen about four times.

Table 1
FIREMAN-TO-POPULATION RATIO: 2001-2005

Year	Number of Firemen	Ratio
2001	9,541	1:8,215
2002	9,622	1:8,315
2003	9,485	1:8,602
2004	9,378	1:8,870
2005	9,246	1:9,169

During the five-year period, NCR topped the list with the most number of fire occurrences at 20,558, Region 4 ranked second at 4,971, followed by Region 6 at 4,591. On the other hand, ARMM, Caraga and Cagayan Valley had the least number of fires.

Table 2
FIRE INCIDENCE BY REGION: 2001-2005

Region	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	Total 2001-2005
NCR Metro Manila	3,628	3,844	4,732	4,437	3,917	20,558
CAR Cordillera	133	210	178	173	213	907
1 Ilocos Region	149	222	305	301	269	1,246
2 Cagayan Valley	134	158	136	149	125	702
3 Central Luzon	536	338	314	471	673	2,332
4 Southern Tagalog	567	444	1,229	1,100	1,631	4,971
5 Bicol Region	122	158	194	225	168	867
6 Western Visayas	286	577	1,296	1,066	1,366	4,591
7 Central Visayas	444	573	760	658	618	3,053
8 Eastern Visayas	211	212	271	206	158	1,058
9 Western Mindanao	160	148	170	128	125	731
10 Northern Mindanao	154	198	269	253	283	1,157
11 Southern Mindanao	296	380	336	447	714	2,173
12 Central Mindanao	293	466	326	397	358	1,840
13 Caraga	56	49	70	103	63	341
ARMM Muslim Mindanao	44	27	31	43	47	192
Total	7,213	8,004	10,617	10,157	10,728	46,719

In 2005, structural fires (residential, commercial and industrial) accounted for almost half of the reported fires (10,728) throughout the country, with forest/grass fires closely following.

By motive, most of these were accidental fires, while less than 200 were intentional. However, there were almost 3,000 fires of unknown origin or which are still under investigation. Strangely, the top cause of fires is from unknown and other causes. This is followed by electrical faults and open flame (such as lit candle).

 

 

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