DAVAO City recorded 716 fire incidents from January to October 2024, reflecting a 28.25% rise compared to the 557 incidents for the same period in 2023.
According to Sr. Insp. Frances Mae Sendrijas, the spokesperson of Davao City Fire District Station, the leading cause of these fires was electrical ignition, primarily due to arcing and loose connections.
Open flames and rubbish fires were also significant contributors.
“During the first quarter, grass fires made up a large part of the data, contributing to the high fire incident record,” Sendrijas explained. “The hot weather during that period played a role.”
While the first quarter saw a surge in grass fires, Sendrijas emphasized that fires can occur in any season.
“Fire doesn’t choose a time,” she said. “Even during the rainy season, we see a rise in incidents, particularly electrical post-fires. We are closely coordinating with DLPC (Davao Light and Power Company) to address this, as they are our partners in responding to post-fires within the city.”
Residential areas were the most commonly affected, followed by electrical posts and grasslands.
Sendrijas urged the public to be vigilant and practice fire safety measures to prevent such incidents.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
