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Bacolod City, PhilippinesThursday, March 1, 2012
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Editorial

A timely reminder

Daily Star logo
Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.
NINFA R. LEONARDIA
Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ
Editor

GUILLERMO TEJIDA III
Desk Editor
PATRICK PANGILINAN
Busines Editor

NIDA A. BUENAFE

Sports Editor
RENE GENOVE
Bureau Chief, Dumaguete
MAJA P. DELY
Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA
Administrative Officer

The fire that hit a two-storey building along La Salle Avenue last Tuesday destroyed an estimated P1.5 million worth of property as well as rendered 52 female students homeless. The fire that is suspected to have been caused by an overheated electric fan that was left plugged in by one of the dormitory’s tenants, fortunately did not result in any serious injuries or fatalities, but it still must be traumatic for the owners of the building and the establishments in it, and the students who lost most of their worldly possessions to the conflagration.

It is probably fitting that the fire hit just a few days before March which is also known as Fire Prevention Month, because an actual fire will do more to remind the public of the potential dangers of fires than any slogan or information campaign by the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Those who do not want their homes or business establishments to suffer the fate of the Sumbingco Building should take the warnings and precautions issued by the BFP during this month seriously. Because most fires are caused by defective electric appliances or faulty wiring, electrical appliances should not be left carelessly plugged in and electrical wirings of aging homes and establishments should checked for potential defects that could cause fires to suddenly break out. Those who have been holding off the replacement of old wiring, for one reason or another, should reconsider their position because if a fire does break out, the damage will be much bigger than whatever amount they are saving by delaying much needed upgrades, or repairs to the electrical systems of their properties.

 Our fire fighters from the city as well as volunteer organizations have shown time and again that they are indeed adequately equipped and capable of handling the situation when fires do break out. That, however, is no reason to become careless when it comes to securing our homes and businesses. Firefighters may be able to put out the fire, but the fire and water damage to property and possessions will still test the finances of the victims, especially if they do not have insurance.

Fire Prevention Month is usually associated with the BFP and volunteer fire fighting units, but we forget, the key word here is prevention. This means that most of the responsibility should go to the home and business owners and not the fire fighters. Let us make the celebration of this year’s Fire Prevention Month more meaningful not only by listening to the tips given by the fire fighters, but by also taking the time to thoroughly reevaluate just how safe our homes and businesses are from fires, and taking proper action as soon as possible.*

 
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