Fires in Region XII gut P106 million worth of properties
(posted 15 Apr 2011)

     Data from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Region XII showed that a total of 294 fire incidents occurred in the region in 2010. Back in 2009, a total of 317 fires set ablaze properties in the region. The 2010 fires gutted properties worth more than P106.6 million which was 76.5 percent higher than the P60.4 million total damages reported in 2009.

Fire Incidence in Region XII: 2009 & 2010
Area Fire Incidence Total Damage to Properties (P'000)
2009 2010 2009 2010
Cotabato

23

 23 23,445.2 22,329.0
Sarangani 24 23 3,912.2 20,247.0
South Cotabato 41 65 4,767.4 19,788.8
Sultan Kudarat 30 38 1,895.6 3,339.4
Cotabato City 9 17 6,150.0 1,733.0
General Santos City 142 70 10,680.7 9,345.0
Kidapawan City 11 15 3,431.5 22,954.0
Koronadal City 20 21 1,544.5 4,097.5
Tacurong City 17 22 4,582.2 2,811.5
Total 317 294 60,409.3 106,645.1
Source: BFP XII

     Across the region, General Santos City had the highest fire incidence in 2010 with 70 fires and followed by South Cotabato Province with 65 fire incidents. Kidapawan City and Cotabato City reported the least with only 15 and 17 fire incidents, respectively. In 2009, 142 fires struck General Santos City and razed properties worth about P10.7 million.

    Kidapawan City, despite having the least number of fire incidents, posted the highest amount of damage to properties lost to fires. The 15 fire incidents in the city gutted properties worth close to P23.0 million including the 2-story KMCC Mall which caught fire in March 2010. Cotabato City recorded the least damage with only P1.7 million worth of properties lost to 17 fires.

Fire Incidence in Region XII by Month of Occurrence: 2010
Month of
Occurrence		 Fire Incidence Total Damage to Properties
(in P'000)
January 30 5,087.6
February 27 6,912.8
March 48 32,853.9
April 25 3,291.5
May 15 9,064.7
June 11 2,817.0
July 17 2,677.0
August 23 10,165.2
September 36 12,620.5
October 23 11,968.0
November 22 5,501.0
December 17 3,686.0
Total 294 106,645.1
Source: BFP XII

     March, supposedly the Fire Prevention Month, recorded the highest incidence with a total of 48 fires setting ablaze about P32.9 million worth of properties. Thirty-six fires struck in September and destroyed properties worth more than P12.6 million. June saw the least number of fire incidents with only 11 fires with a total damage of P2.8 million.