Fire incidents up 23% in first 2 months of 2024 -BFP

A total of 2,742 fire incidents nationwide were recorded in the first two months of 2024, reflecting a 23 percent increase compared to the 2,224 cases in the same period in 2023, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (GMA).

The figures were culled by GMA Integrated News Research from BFP data covering the period January 1, 2024 to February 26, 2024.

The 2024 fire cases claimed more lives – 55 as against the 39 fatalities last year – and injured more civilians 184 compared to 154.  BFP personnel injured totaled to 18, higher than the seven who sustained wound in 2023.

Damage to property from the January to February 2024 blazes reached P1.23 billion, bigger than the P1.11 billion recorded last year.

In Metro Manila, fire incidents were down by 55 percent – 222 as against 491.  However, the amount of damage this year reached P511.60 million compared to P317.01 million in 2023 or 61 percent higher.

As of January 2024, BFP data showed at least 123 municipalities without fire trucks and buildings.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has the highest number of municipalities with no fire truck and station at 58, followed by Region VIII (Eastern Visayas), 14; Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula, 12; Region X (Northern Mindanao), 11; and Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), 10.

According to the BFP, the ideal fire personnel to population ratio stands at 1:2000.

At the national level, however, the current ratio is 1:3,459.

The following regions have the worst ratio:  Region 4A or Calabarzon (1:4,975); Region 3 or Central Luzon (1:4,296); and National Capital Region or Metro Manila (1:3,946).

Only CAR came close to the ideal fire personnel to population ratio at 1:1,376. —LDF, GMA Integrated News