Baguio City Fire Superintendent Marisol Odiver during the Punong Barangay’s meeting on Feb. 21 at the Baguio Convention Center disclosed that top causes of fires in the city are due to youngsters playing with matches or lighted and flammable objects.
Other top causes of fires recorded in 2024 are electrical ignition by arcing wherein electricity jumps between two wires or connections, igniting flammable materials nearby; and loose electrical connection which results in arcing.
Unattended or improperly discarded smoking materials such as pipes, cigars or cigarettes, overheated home appliance, rubbish flames, unattended candle or lighted materials, and flying embers also cause fires, Odiver reported, as with overloaded electrical connections, and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and acetylene battery explosions.
LPG tanks and rubber tube connections, in households and commercial cooking areas, should be regularly inspected, and old stoves replaced as they lack modern safety features, and could cause fires from overheating, leaks and sparks, Odiver cautioned.
As to classification, a total of 79 fires happened in 2023; 31 from households, 14 commercial/industrial/institutional, 9 forest fires, 12 grass fires, 4 from burning garbage, 7 vehicular fires and 2 from electric posts.
In 2024, 37 fires occurred in households, 20 in commercial/industrial/institutions, 11 forest fires, 18 grass fires, 2 from garbage, 7 from vehicles and one from an electric post, for a total of 96 fires.
More fires occur in households due to the absence of firefighting tools and equipment, and none or less know-how in putting off fires, Odiver said.
Commercial and educational establishments are inspected by Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) personnel and required to have basic equipment such as fire extinguishers for the renewal of business permits and accreditation. Fire brigades are also required as with training for fire suppression and firefighting.
In all of the fire incidents in the city, there were no casualties in 2023, six civilians died in 2024 and one in 2025, with the BFP having no casualties.
There were 9 civilians injured in 2023, 24 in 2024 and no recorded injuries in 2025. No firemen suffered injuries.
Three arson cases were filed in court in 2024; with zero cases in 2023 and 2025.
In 2023, there were 79 fire incidents, with damages amounting to P90,743,826; while in 2024 there were 96 fires, with damages of P57,910,774.00
As to time of occurrence, there were 8 incidents at 6:30 in the evening, the highest so far; and 6 incidents at 4:30 early morning, at 2:30 and 5:30 in the afternoon. In 2024, one fire occurred at 10:30 PM.
Odiver advices parents to closely supervise their children’s activities. For safety and regular reminders, the Public Address (PA) system in the barangays shall be used, she said. The traditional call system, shall be for preparedness, and source of information to a greater number of residents.
The BCFS Facebook pages shall also post information, reminders, infographics, videos, live discussions and advice to avoid fires, for security, communication, awareness and preparedness against fires. -jgfianza
