Several areas in Bacolod City were identified as fire-prone by the City's Bureau of Fire Protection yesterday.

Among the fire prone-areas are Barangays 1, 2, 3, 4, 19, 27, 26, 40, Banago, Handumanan, Bata, and Sitio Magsungay in Brgy. Singcang-Airport, Deputy Fire Marshall Fire Insp. Publeo Ploteña said.

Ploteña said these areas were considered fire-prone because there are many squatters family living in them, whose houses are mostly made of light materials, adding that most of these places have narrow roads.

Now that the fire prone areas have been identified, Ploteña said they will conduct an information dissemination campaign in these places to curb fire occurrence.

Ploteña said their records also show that, from January to November this year, the 63 business establishments they have inspected were found to have violated the fire code of the Philippines .

He said many of these business establishments have unserviceable fire alarm systems, no emergency lights, have no fire exits and fire fighting equipments, like fire extinguishers while others have substandard electrical installations.

These business establishments have already been warned so they can correct their misdemeanors, Ploteña told the DAILY STAR.

Meanwhile, an orientation seminar on the new Fire Code of the Philippines (RA 9514) was held yesterday at the Jollibee fast food branch at Lacson Street , Bacolod that was attended by representatives of the city government and the business community.

Under the new law, City Fire Marshal Pamela Rojane Candido said the business establishments found to have violated the fire code will be given only 15 days to correct their misdemeanors. The fines for the violators were also increased under the new law, he said.

Placards saying “this building is fire hazard” will be placed at the businesses that fail to correct their lapses, Candido said.*APN

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