The Dumaguete City fire department has recorded a total of 64 fires and damage to property was placed at P15,050,300 in 2005. All of them were due to accidental burning, of which 32 were caused by faulty electrical wirings.

City fire marshal C/Insp. Ranulfo Sayson, in his report to the Regional Bureau of Fire Protection, said his unit had also responded to 15 fire alarms in neighboring areas with an estimated loss to property of P551,000.

One of the most recent activities of the fire station was the conduct of an earthquake drill, fire and bomb drill, first aid training and evacuation drills at West City Elementary School and in selected barangays of the city during the national disaster consciousness week last year.

It has also initiated trainings and seminars on disaster preparedness with different barangays in the city in coordination with the city disaster coordinating council.

During the observance of crime prevention week, the city fire station conducted a lecture on fire prevention, fire suppression and first aid inside the city jail in Bajumpandan.

It tapped the services of a non-government organization through water supply during conflagration. A memorandum of agreement was signed between Silliman University Fire Brigade and Albino Solon of AKS Purified Supply.

In recent years, problems such as lack of firetrucks, firefighting apparels to include boots, coats, helmets and gas masks, inadequate communication facilities, absence of an investigative equipment, and lack of first aid and medical supplies and medicines like analgesics and antipyretics were given attention, with much help from the local government, fire chief Sayson said.

The fire department is also in need of a new computer with printer, two steel cabinets, fire hoses, and a brand new machine to replace the dilapidated firetruck.

Despite this predicament, the city fire department has inspected 3,737 establishments around the city and had recommended corrections for 174 establishments, he added.*JG

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