Fire incidents in the city increased in the first five months of this year but the cost of damages decreased, the Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) XI said.
A BFP data showed that 268 fire incidents happened from January to May this year, an increase from last year’s record of 199 cases.
But BFP investigation chief SFO3 Ramil Gillado said most of the incidents were grass and rubbish fires.
There were 102 cases of non-structural fires, an increase compared to last year’s record of just 37 cases.
He said grass fires started in early February and lasted until April due to hot weather. There were 69 recorded grass fires this year, compared to just 25 last year.
For structural, there were 166 recorded cases, just four cases higher than last year record of 162. Ninety cases of structural fires affected residential areas.
BFP said the 268 fires this year damaged P45,686,100, much lower than the P79,407,400 in the same period last year. Only one casualty was reported this year.
Gillado said most fire incidents were still caused by faulty electrical connection.
Improper disposal of cigarette butt and open flame are the two other top causes of fire, he said.
The BFP is expecting a reduction of fire incidents, especially grass fires, as summer ends.
