MANILA, Philippines – There have been less fires in the 2012 holiday season compared to the previous year, with both Metro Manila and Region 3 — the main source of pyrotechnics supply in the country — seeing a drop in fire incidents.

The Bureau of Fire Protection on Monday, January 7, said that reports sent to its headquarters showed a drop in recorded fire incidents during the holiday season or the month of December, from 247 in 2011 to 206 in 2012.

The 7% decrease also meant a drop in damage to properties during the same period. From P10 million in 2012, the total damage to properties in 2012 was down to P3.8 million.

Zero pyrotechnics related fire incidents were also reported in Region 3 over the month of December.

The BFP cited its strict implementation of its fire prevention drive, Oplan Paalalaa, in the entire region as the reason for the decrease.

A significant part of the BFP’s prevention campaign was their prohibition on the use of sky lanterns or fire balloons in residential and commercial areas, which the fire bureau said can become a major cause of fires when it falls on roofs or other combustible material.

Among the major fires that hit Metro Manila in December included a Christmas Eve fire in Divisoria that left at least a P1-million worth of damage, and a fire in San Juan that left 2,000 families homeless. – Rappler.com