BFP to building occupants: Be trained in firefighting, drills

By Paulo DS. Papa

BUILDING occupants must be familiar with the proper use of fire extinguishers installed within their establishments, emphasized Senior Fire Officer I Restituto Dait, the chief of the community relations unit at the Naga City Fire Station.

On March 13, the Bureau of Fire Protection will organize a nationwide simultaneous fire drill. In Naga, the station will lead the activity at the Metro Gaisano Mall in Concepcion Pequeña, where approximately eighty employees are expected to participate.

In an interview, Dait stated that the city’s fire station is taking the lead in the drill to equip workers with the necessary skills to respond quickly and effectively in the event of a fire.

These employees are anticipated to acquire basic survival skills and firefighting abilities, including the proper use of fire extinguishers, as mandated by the BFP for business establishments.

“While extinguishers are present, many individuals are unaware of how to use them in case of a fire. It is crucial for them to promptly utilize fire extinguishers in the event of a fire,” he explained.

Dait highlighted the BFP’s requirement for establishments to design fire exits based on the number of building occupants, emphasizing that exits should open outward to prevent the entrapment of panicking individuals.

“In buildings with a large number of people, fire exits must open outward; for fewer occupants, inward-opening exits may be suitable,” he added.

He advised establishments against locking their fire exits and mentioned that the BFP conducts fire drills and training seminars for establishments on an annual basis, extending beyond the fire prevention month.

THE Bureau of Fire Protection retains the catchphrase “Sa Pag-Iwas sa Sunog, Hindi Ka Nag-iisa” for this year’s Fire Prevention Month. Photo courtesy of BFP