FIGHTING FIRE

In 2020, around 14,000 fire incidents were reported which cost billions in property damage and resulted in loss of numerous lives. On top of these are the additional losses incurred while the area undergoes rehabilitation and repair. Fire, needless to say, is serious business. It takes less than a minute for a small flame to grow into a major fire and if your house is made of easily flammable materials, then it
can be engulfed in flames in just five minutes. And it only takes an hour or so for a house to completely burn down.

Last year, on September 10, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11589 or the BFP Modernization Act into law. This puts into motion a 10-year plan that is expected to revitalize the institution. Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Chief Director Louie Puracan expects that this will move the agency beyond its “traditional role of firefighting.”

With this development, Puracan shares his
insight regarding some of our burning questions:

1. Fire protection is a major concern nationwide and the figures show that we are short on the necessary equipment, stations, manpower, etc. Ideal ratio is 1 firefighter: 2,000 people. Have we achieved this ratio?

The BFP is getting there. As of January 31, 2022, the total BFP personnel strength nationwide is 32, 952. We are very positive that we will reach the ideal ratio with the passing of Republic Act 11589. One of the provisions of this act is Human Resource Development. The.....