INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) on Tuesday urged the public to use electrical appliances responsibly as these remain the leading cause of fires.
Speaking at a public briefing, BFP spokesperson Senior Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said the public must be wary of using defective appliances as these may ignite a fire.
READ: Public enjoined to observe fire prevention measures
鈥淓lectrical causes are the leading cause of fires, and this is related to our electricity use, especially now that the weather is hot. We should be responsible when using electric fans鈥攊f they are old or slightly damaged, it is advisable to replace them with a new one,鈥� she said at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
鈥淒o not settle for temporary fixes or repairs, as it may cost us even more in the long run. Worst, it could put our family鈥檚 lives at risk,鈥� she added.
She also urged the public not to steal electricity through illegal connections known as 鈥渏umpers.鈥�
鈥淲hile we understand that some people struggle financially and resort to using jumpers, we hope they consider the dangers this may cause. At the same time, electrical companies must also ensure the safety and proper maintenance of our power lines through regular monitoring,鈥� Carbajal-Atienza said.
The country observes Fire Prevention Month every March.
March is also the month when warmer weather is typically experienced due to the upcoming dry season in the Philippines.