Davao City fire district rolls out El Niño plan as vegetation, rubbish fires climb
Vegetation and rubbish fires made up just over half of Davao City's fire incidents from January to October 2026, and the BFP is auditing water sources and watching high-risk areas ahead of an expected dry spell.
Vegetation and rubbish fires made up 50.5 percent of fire incidents in Davao City from January to October 2026, the Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao City Fire District (DCFD) said as it begins carrying out an El Niño action plan, according to SunStar.
DCFD spokesperson Fire Senior Inspector Frances Marie Sendrijas linked the increase to El Niño during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing on Wednesday, October 28. The district earlier reported 734 fire incidents from January to September 2026, a 37.9 percent rise from 532 in the same period of 2025. Grass fires and fires from clearing agricultural land rose to 123 from 13.
The plan, which comes from BFP national headquarters, requires local stations to audit alternative water sources for the dry months, including water tanks, swimming pools, and nearby rivers and lakes. Sendrijas said that in a worst-case scenario, firefighters would draw water from these sources. The plan also covers mapping high-risk areas, preparing a contingency plan, and stronger campaigns against open burning, which she said still happens in the city. Quick reaction teams for wildland fires are still being formed.
Sendrijas said work on the plan began after the bureau met with Interior Secretary Juanito Victor C. Remulla in September. The BFP presented its four-phase national plan, covering preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery, to Remulla on October 6, according to the bureau's Facebook page.
On equipment, Sendrijas cited the district's 2025 hydrant mapping. "So, in Davao City, we have a total of 381 hydrants, of which 337 are operational," she said, meaning 44 are not working. All 15 fire stations have a serviceable fire truck, with about 18 serviceable trucks in total.
Firefighters are monitoring the grassland areas of Toril District and Calinan for grass and vegetation fires. They are also watching dense urban communities in Buhangin, Agdao, Matina Crossing and Bankerohan, where homes are built close together from light materials. Sendrijas said electricity use doubles in these areas during hot weather, and electrical faults remain the leading cause of fires in the city.
She urged residents to avoid substandard appliances, especially cooling units, to stop burning garbage in residential areas, and to call firefighters immediately instead of going on Facebook Live first. The DCFD will intensify its Oplan Ligtas na Pamayanan, which includes house-to-house checks of electrical outlets, cooking areas and LPG tanks. "The job of the Bureau of Fire Protection is 80 percent prevention," Sendrijas said.
DOST-Pagasa Davao weather specialist Engr. Alan Ray C. Ribo earlier said rainfall in the city is projected to drop significantly from November, with a dry spell expected by February 2027.
Why it matters for Davao
With Pagasa expecting much less rain from November and a dry spell by February 2027, residents face higher fire risk, especially in grassland areas and crowded neighbourhoods with light-material homes. The BFP is asking households to check appliances and stop burning garbage.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by SunStar. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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