Fires in Region XII destroy P44-M properties in Q1 2010
(posted 24 May 2010)

Data from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region XII recorded a total of 105 fire incidents across the region for the first quarter of 2010. The fire officials estimated the damaged properties to be worth P44.854 million.  During the same period in 2008,  a total of 109 fire incidents were recorded in the region damaging an estimated P14.017 million worth of properties.

Fire Incidence in Region XII by Province/City: First Quarter, 2010
Province/City January February March Total
Cotabato 0 1 4 5
Sarangani 1 5 1 7
South Cotabato 5 7 10 22
Sultan Kudarat 4 4 9 17
Cotabato City 3 3 3 9
Gen. Santos City 13 1 8 22
Kidapawan City 0 1 3 4
Koronadal City 0 1 5 6
Tacurong City 4 4 5 13
Total 30 27 48 105
Source: Bureau of Fire Protection XII

South Cotabato and General Santos City each recorded 22 incidents of fire during the first quarter of 2010. Sultan Kudarat recorded 17 incidents while Tacurong City had 13. Kidapawan City, on the other hand, had the least number of incidents with only four.

For the first two months of the year, almost one fire incident is reported everyday in the region. January had 30 reported fire incidents while February had 27 incidents. Most of the incidents, however, occurred in March, considered the driest period of the year, with 48 blazes damaging an estimated P32.854 million worth of properties.

Total Damage to Properties by Province/City: First Quarter, 2010
(In Thousand Pesos)
Area January February March Total
Cotabato - 100.00 1,752.00 1,852.00
Sarangani 80.00 2,545.50 60.00 2,685.50
South Cotabato 2,700.00 2,349.00 2,819.60 7,868.60
Sultan Kudarat 690.10 1,080.25 774.30 2,544.65
Cotabato City 400.00 325.00 132.00 857.00
Gen. Santos City 65.00 45.00 4,650.00 4,760.00
Kidapawan City - 100.00 20,365.00 20,465.00
Koronadal City - 50.00 2,040.00 2,090.00
Tacurong City 1,152.50 318.00 261.00 1,731.50
Total 5,087.60 6,912.75 32,853.90 44,854.25
Source: Bureau of Fire Protection XII

Although only four fires occurred in Kidapawan City during the quarter, the city posted the biggest damage which fire officials placed at P20.465 million. The three major fires that occurred in March alone gutted properties amounting to P20.365 million.

Fires in South Cotabato destroyed P7.868 million worth of properties. An estimated P4.760 million of properties in General Santos City were razed by fires. Cotabato City, on the other hand, lost only P0.857 million worth of properties in nine fire incidents that occurred in the city during the same period.